How much BTC do long-term Bitcoin holders own? As of December 2025, long-term holders remain the dominant force in Bitcoin ownership, even as distribution accelerates during the final quarter of the year.
How Much Bitcoin Do Long-Term Holders Control?
Long-term holders, defined as wallets holding BTC for at least 155 days, currently own approximately 13.68 million BTC. This represents about 71.9% of the circulating supply.
While still historically high, this figure has declined from around 14.8 million BTC in mid-2025, signaling that seasoned investors are gradually reducing exposure.
Why Are Long-Term Holders Selling?
The recent decline reflects a classic late-cycle rotation. Long-term holders have distributed roughly 755,000 BTC over the last 30 days, with much of that supply flowing to short-term holders.
Some are taking profits outright, while others are using advanced strategies like selling covered calls to generate income without fully exiting positions.
How Much BTC Is Held by Institutions and Corporations?
Corporate and institutional entities hold over 1.08 million BTC. Strategy Inc. remains the largest corporate holder with roughly 650,000 BTC, equal to about 3.1% of the total possible supply.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs and funds collectively control around 1.5 million BTC, representing a mix of institutional and long-term retail exposure.
What Role Does Dormant and Lost BTC Play?
Roughly 2.95 million BTC has not moved in over ten years. A significant portion of this supply is believed to be lost, but it still counts toward long-term holdings.
Additionally, about 1.1 million BTC attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto has remained untouched for more than 15 years, further tightening the true liquid supply.
Are Whales Still Accumulating Bitcoin?
Interestingly, while the broader long-term holder cohort is distributing, whale wallets holding more than 1,000 BTC have increased their balances in recent weeks.
This suggests that the largest players view current prices as an opportunity to accumulate, even as smaller long-term holders de-risk.
Conclusion
As of December 2025, long-term Bitcoin holders control nearly 14 million BTC, but their dominance is slowly declining. This redistribution phase is typical of mature market cycles and may set the stage for the next wave of accumulation once volatility subsides.
