The 1 BTC club: You might be more unique than you realize
If you possess at least 1 Bitcoin, prepare to feel special.
Blockchain data reveals that roughly 827,000-900,000 addresses currently hold a minimum of 1 Bitcoin (BTC). However, many of these wallets are managed by exchanges, institutions, or individuals with multiple addresses. The actual count of unique individuals owning 1 Bitcoin is probably between 800,000-850,000.
This is an extremely exclusive group. With a global population of 8 billion, owning 1 BTC corresponds to only 0.01%-0.02% of people worldwide.
The distribution is also skewed. In 2025, approximately 0.18% of cryptocurrency owners possess a full Bitcoin or more, indicating that fewer than two in every 1,000 crypto investors have reached the 1-BTC milestone.
How much Bitcoin do you need to be wealthy?
With Bitcoin currently valued above $120,000, owning a single coin is a hefty investment for many.
Committing $120,000 to a single volatile asset like Bitcoin requires significant income and strong conviction. While many admire Bitcoin from afar, few can take the plunge without risking too much.
There are around 16 million millionaires globally, but less than 900,000 individuals own 1 BTC or more. Therefore, owning 1 Bitcoin is rarer than being a millionaire. This prompts a shift in the question from “How much Bitcoin do you need to be wealthy?” to “What if you own 1 Bitcoin?” The answer: You’re already among the elite.
Did you know? NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. converted his salary for the 2021 season into Bitcoin. His original $750,000 would be valued at about $1.35 million after BTC rose past $123,000 in mid-2025.
Bitcoin scarcity: There isn’t enough for everyone
Only 21 million Bitcoins will ever exist — and most are already owned.
Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin to have a cap of 21 million coins. By mid-2025, over 19.8 million BTC have already been mined, leaving less than 1.2 million still to be created. When considering lost coins and hoarded supplies, the available amount diminishes even further.
This situation tightens the market. The wealthiest players (the whales) control the majority. Approximately 1.86% of all Bitcoin addresses hold 90% of the supply. Major exchanges, early adopters, and institutional custodians dominate the ledger. Just four addresses with between 100,000 and 1 million BTC together possess 14% of all coins. The top 100 addresses command over 58%.
So, if you’re asking, “Is having 1 Bitcoin sufficient?” the answer is affirmative because most people will never achieve that. With Bitcoin tax regulations tightening and investments in Bitcoin becoming more competitive, the journey to owning a whole coin is not getting any easier.
Did you know? Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, is estimated to hold between 750,000 and 1.1 million BTC, valued at roughly $92 billion-$135 billion in mid-2025.
Bitcoin ownership distribution in 2025
Global Bitcoin ownership reveals significant access disparities.
According to a 2024 Triple-A survey, approximately 6.8% of the global population, or around 560 million people, own cryptocurrency. Yet only a small fraction of this group holds sufficient BTC to achieve whole-coin status. Most hold less than 0.01 BTC, underscoring how elusive owning 1 BTC is for the majority.
The barriers are structural too. An estimated 1.4 billion adults lack access to banking, with limited internet, digital identity, or access to crypto services.
Even in regions where mobile money is popular, like Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia, users contend with Know Your Customer (KYC) restrictions, high on-ramp fees, or unclear Bitcoin tax policies. This makes Bitcoin investment practically unreachable for millions, despite its purported borderless nature.
Is owning 1 Bitcoin enough? For many, it remains too risky
Psychological and behavioral hurdles render full Bitcoin ownership daunting.
Even with access and funds, there’s still the element of fear. Bitcoin mining and trading activities in 2025 have created considerable price fluctuations. Surging past $109,000 then plummeting back to the mid-$70,000s in mere weeks, Bitcoin’s volatility can be overwhelming—especially for those not accustomed to 20%-30% declines.
Beyond price fluctuations, Bitcoin still bears the stigma of speculation. For many, it’s seen primarily as a volatile asset rather than a stable store of value.
Prominent voices (Robert Shiller, Warren Buffett, George Soros) have labeled it everything from a bubble to a Ponzi-like scheme. Coupled with real instances of coordinated manipulation, it’s no wonder many question whether owning 1 Bitcoin holds any long-term significance—or if it’s merely a high-stakes gamble.
Did you know? Some of the world’s leading investors have criticized Bitcoin as a bubble. Nobel laureate Robert Shiller referred to it as “the best example of a speculative mania”; Warren Buffett termed it “rat poison squared”; and George Soros called it “a typical bubble” at Davos (though his fund later explored crypto trading).
Owning a full Bitcoin in 2025: Here’s how to achieve it
Strategies to acquire 1 BTC exist but still demand time, risk, or capital.
The simplest method is accumulation via dollar-cost averaging (DCA). By consistently investing a fixed amount, buyers can weather volatility and gradually work towards 1 BTC without the psychological burden of one-time purchases.
Some individuals explore yield-generating crypto programs for better returns, though these come with added risks.
For higher-income earners, accumulating a full coin often just means redirecting disposable income. For companies like Strategy or Tesla, directly purchasing Bitcoin with reserves has made them corporate whales — illustrating that owning a full Bitcoin in 2025 is simpler when operating at scale.
Access is also broadening. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were launched in 2024, allowing individuals to buy Bitcoin through conventional brokerage accounts. These products — like BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC — have attracted over $120 billion, providing new, regulated avenues for mainstream investors.
As a final consideration, employees in Web3 should explore whether their company offers salaries in cryptocurrency. If paid in Tether’s USDt (USDT), they can seamlessly convert a portion into Bitcoin each month with minimal fees, and in some cases, they might even receive their entire salary in Bitcoin.
