Bitcoin’s mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, has now become the 11th richest person in the world, with the value of his cryptocurrencies exceeding $130 billion.
According to Arkham Intelligence data, the value of Bitcoins in wallets thought to belong to Nakamoto has surpassed that of Microsoft founder Bill Gates ($117 billion) and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell ($126.5 billion), with the BTC price increasing by 14 percent in the last month.
Calculated at Bitcoin’s current price of $118,912, this wealth puts Satoshi just $12 billion behind Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, who has long been known for his critical stance against Bitcoin. Buffett’s net worth, according to Forbes, is $141 billion. If Bitcoin rises by about 8 percent to $128,650, Satoshi will surpass Buffett.
In a 2022 statement, Buffett described Bitcoin as “rat poison” and said he wouldn’t buy all the Bitcoins, even for $25. Since then, Bitcoin’s value has increased by 204%.
While the exact amount of Bitcoin owned by Satoshi Nakamoto remains unknown, a widely accepted analysis is known as the “Patoshi Pattern.” The consistent activity of a single miner observed in early Bitcoin blocks suggests that Satoshi mined approximately 22,000 blocks. This analysis suggests that Nakamoto may have approximately 1.1 million BTC. Arkham Intelligence’s estimate of 1.09 million BTC also aligns with this approach.
Satoshi’s true identity remains unknown. An HBO documentary released last fall suggested that Bitcoin Core developer Peter Todd might be Satoshi, but Todd and many viewers dismissed this theory. Similarly, early Bitcoin contributors Adam Back and Hal Finney have also been cited, but both have denied these claims. Tech giants like Elon Musk have also been suggested as Satoshi, but his identity remains unclear.
*This is not investment advice.