Bitcoin's Biggest Billionaire Winners
B itcoin is soaring to the moon, with the cryptocurrency posting a new all-time high on Monday of $122,838, nearly a 100% increase since July of last year. For a brief time, Bitcoin's market cap was upwards of $2.4 trillion, surpassing Amazon as the fifth most valuable asset in the world.
The frenzy comes as investors eagerly await the outcome of what the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services calls 'Crypto Week.' Three bills being considered in the House of Representatives would help establish a regulatory framework and help integrate cryptocurrencies into traditional finance: the CLARITY Act, Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act and the GENIUS Act. 'These pieces of legislation further the President's pro-growth and pro-business agenda, and provide a clear regulatory framework for digital assets,' according to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
All this anticipation has helped produce outsized returns for BTC holders, with the coin's price far outpacing even the broader market, itself near record highs and up nearly 12% from a year ago. Here are a few of the biggest billionaire winners, including the largest holders of Bitcoin based on Forbes billionaire ranks, over the last year according to Forbes ' estimates. One person not among the gainers is Crypto's richest person Changpeng Zhao, whose fortune comes from his cryptocurrency exchange Binance but does not appear to own much Bitcoin.
No one would be richer or gain more from Bitcoin's rise than its mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto—if s/he really exists and is really one living person. With estimated holdings of up to 1.1 million Bitcoins, Satoshi's stash could now be worth more than $135 billion thanks to Bitcoin's all-time high. That would be good enough to make Satoshi the 11th-wealthiest person in the world, $10 billion richer than computer billionaire Michael Dell and just $7 billion poorer than Warren Buffett.
But the problem is that no one has been able to definitively prove the identity of Satoshi, who authored Bitcoin's white paper in 2008 before handing it off to the community and has never sold a token since. The pseudonymous person or possible team of people behind Satoshi Nakamoto left the stage more than a decade ago. That has not stopped many from trying to reveal the true identity in what has become one of the greatest unsolved mysteries. It's also impossible to determine an exact accounting of Satoshi's bitcoin addresses or total holdings since the network, too, is pseudonymous (Forbes previously reported estimates range between 600,000 and 1.1 million tokens). For those reasons, Forbes has yet to place Satoshi on the billionaires list, even as all those zeroes keep piling up.
Jamel Toppin for Forbes
Few are as bullish about Bitcoin as Saylor, who has made heavy investments in the coins through his publicly traded software firm MicroStrategy and his personal accounts. Microstrategy (market capitalization: $127 billion) owns 601,550 BTC, worth nearly $74 billion on Monday. That includes an additional 4,225 BTC bought at an average price of $111,827 per token from July 7th to July 13th, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. In 2020, Saylor divulged that he personally held 17,732 BTC, purchased for some $175 million at an average price of $9,882. That stash would now be worth more than $2 billion. Brian Armstrong | $16.4 bil | + $5.2 bil
The CEO of Coinbase, Armstrong has been consistently selling stock through 2025 using an automated trading program, but still owns roughly 19% of the company he cofounded, helping him indirectly profit from the rise in Bitcoin's price like Ehrsam.
Michael Prince for Forbes Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss | $4.2 bil each | +$3.7 bil each
The Winklevoss twins hold an estimated 28,288 BTC, now worth roughly $3.5 billion. Famous for alleging Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook, the twins donated 15.47 Bitcoin apiece, worth $1 million each at the time, to Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, citing issues with the Biden administration's approach toward cryptocurrency in a June 2024 post on X by Tyler Winklevoss. Mike Novogratz | $4.9 bil | +$2.4 bil
Novogratz is an early Bitcoin investor and the founder, CEO and majority shareholder of Galaxy Digital Holdings, a crypto investment firm that trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange. He first bought Bitcoin in 2013, and has invested in a wide variety of startups and tokens within the cryptocurrency industry. Fred Ehrsam | $4.2 bil | +$1.1 bil
Cofounder of Coinbase Global, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, Ehrsam left the company in 2017 to found Paradigm, a cryptocurrency investment firm with more than $8 billion in assets. He remains on the board of Coinbase, and owns 4% of the shares, which trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and are up 81% over the past year—buoyed in part by Coinbase's corporate reserves of 51,017.36 BTC, worth $6.3 billion at Monday's all-time high price.
Getty Images Tim Draper | $3.6 bil | +$1.6 bil
Draper is a founding partner of venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson and an early Bitcoin investor. In 2014, he bought 29,656 bitcoins which were confiscated by U.S. Marshalls from the Silk Road black market; they're now worth over $3.6 billion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
State of play in Trump's tariffs, threats and delays
Dozens of economies including India, Canada and Mexico face threats of higher tariffs Friday if they fail to strike deals with Washington. Here is a summary of duties President Donald Trump has introduced in his second term as he pressures allies and competitors alike to reshape US trade relationships. - Global tariffs - US "reciprocal" tariffs -- imposed under legally contentious emergency powers -- are due to jump from 10 percent to various steeper levels for a list of dozens of economies come August 1, including South Korea, India and Taiwan. The hikes were to take effect July 9 but Trump postponed them days before imposition, marking a second delay since their shock unveiling in April. A 10 percent "baseline" levy on most partners, which Trump imposed in April, remains in place. He has also issued letters dictating tariff rates above 10 percent for individual countries, including Brazil, which has a trade deficit with the United States and was not on the initial list of higher "reciprocal" rates. Several economies -- the European Union, Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines -- have struck initial tariff deals with Washington, while China managed to temporarily lower tit-for-tat duties. Certain products like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber are excluded from Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, but may face separate action under different authorities. This has been the case for steel, aluminum, and soon copper. Gold and silver, alongside energy commodities, are also exempted. Excluded too are Mexico and Canada, hit with a different set of tariffs, and countries like Russia and North Korea as they already face sanctions. - Canada, Mexico - Canadian and Mexican products were hit by 25 percent US tariffs shortly after Trump returned to office, with a lower rate for Canadian energy. Trump targeted both neighbors over illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, also invoking emergency powers. But trade negotiations have been bumpy. This month, Trump said Canadian goods will face a higher 35 percent duty from August 1, and Mexican goods will see a 30 percent level. Products entering the United States under the USMCA North American free trade pact, covering large swaths of goods, are expected to remain exempt -- with Canadian energy resources and potash, used as fertilizer, to still face lower rates. - China focus - Trump has also taken special aim at China. The world's two biggest economies engaged in an escalating tariffs war this year before their temporary pullback. The countries imposed triple-digit duties on each other at one point, a level described as a trade embargo. After high level talks, Washington lowered its levies on Chinese goods to 30 percent and Beijing slashed its own to 10 percent. This pause is set to expire August 12, and officials will meet for further talks on Monday and Tuesday in the Swedish capital Stockholm. The US level is higher as it includes a 20 percent tariff over China's alleged role in the global fentanyl trade. Beyond expansive tariffs on Chinese products, Trump ordered the closure of a duty-free exemption for low-value parcels from the country. This adds to the cost of importing items like clothing and small electronics. - Autos, metals - Trump has targeted individual business sectors too, under more conventional national security grounds, imposing a 25 percent levy on steel and aluminum imports which he later doubled to 50 percent. The president has unveiled plans for a 50 percent tariff on copper imports starting August 1 as well and rolled out a 25 percent tariff on imported autos, although those entering under the USMCA can qualify for a lower rate. Trump's auto tariffs impact vehicle parts too, but new rules ensure automakers paying vehicle tariffs will not also be charged for certain other duties. He has ongoing investigations into imports of lumber, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and critical minerals that could trigger further duties. - Legal challenges - Several legal challenges have been filed against the tariffs Trump invoked citing emergencies. The US Court of International Trade ruled in May that the president had overstepped his authority, but a federal appeals court has allowed the duties to remain while it considers the case. If these tariffs are ultimately ruled illegal, companies could possibly seek reimbursements. bys/des/mlm Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A More Affordable EV Won't Save Tesla
Key Points Tesla fell 5% after hours on its second-quarter earnings report. Some investors saw production of a new, more affordable vehicle as a positive sign. The company launched its robotaxi network in June. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) issued another disappointing earnings report on Tuesday. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You The Insurance Savings You Expect Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The leading electric vehicle (EV) maker finished the after-hours session down 5%, but the sell-off could have been worse. The company reported a decline in both sales and profit. Revenue was down 12% to $22.5 billion, and adjusted net income was down 23% to $1.39 billion, or $0.40 per share. Those numbers actually topped a muted revenue estimate at $22.13 billion, while the bottom-line consensus matched the results at $0.40. Tesla's problems have been well-documented at this point. CEO Elon Musk's turn in the political spotlight seemed to backfire after his relationship with President Donald Trump went sour. Due in part to Musk's involvement with politics, the brand has become unappealing in the eyes of some potential buyers, leading to a 16% decline in automotive revenue. Sales have plunged in Europe, and the company is losing ground to more affordable Chinese EVs. One seemingly bright spot Musk has a long history of overcoming weak results by telling investors what they want to hear on the earnings call, including making big promises about its robotaxi network and other initiatives in autonomy like its Optimus robot. He seemed to do that again on the latest earnings call, with some comments about the more affordable model he has long promised, which some have dubbed the Tesla Model 2. Musk said that the company started production of the vehicle in June and is ramping up production now. He added: "The goal with those products was not to negatively impact revenue or gross margin, but just to make a car that everyone loves and wants at a more affordable price." Musk has long argued that price competition was one of the biggest headwinds facing the company, but the brand crisis seems to have overshadowed that. By introducing its own lower-priced model, Tesla may end up cannibalizing its more expensive vehicles. Customers may be choosing between a more expensive Tesla and that lower-priced model, rather than another brand. The new vehicle is just a cheaper Model Y, rather than a brand-new vehicle model. The robotaxi initiative The biggest reason Tesla has maintained its premium valuation even as sales and profits have tumbled is that investors believe that Tesla's robotaxi network could go mainstream, fulfilling Musk's long-term vision. However, the robotaxi has gotten off to only a modest start after launching in June, and it seemed to get less attention on Tuesday's earnings call, though Musk reminded the audience: "As you can tell, autonomy is the story." Management said that robotaxis in Austin, Texas have topped 7,000 miles with no significant safety interventions. The company is aiming to launch the robotaxi in the San Francisco Bay Area next. Tesla needs growth in its core business Investors have bid up Tesla stock on hopes for its initiatives in robotaxis and more affordable vehicles, but the company needs to return to growth in selling EVs for the stock to be successful over the long term. The decline in EV sales is a reflection of a backlash against Tesla's brand. The company is also expected to struggle over the next few quarters due to the elimination of the EV tax credit and a change in other federal policies that supported EV adoption. The company also faces a $300 million effect from tariffs. Tesla could get back on track, especially if the robotaxi network takes off. But the current valuation in the stock leaves little room for upside if it does, especially given the persistent challenges in EV sales. While a more affordable vehicle might be a step in the right direction, it seems more likely to undercut demand for Tesla's more expensive vehicles, rather than competing with alternatives. Should you buy stock in Tesla right now? The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. A More Affordable EV Won't Save Tesla was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Android Authority
21 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Google says it's working to fix voice commands for your smart lights
Lil Katz / Android Authority TL;DR Google has acknowledged a bug affecting voice commands for smart lights. The company says it is aware of the issue and will share an update soon. Many users say they can still control lights via the Google Home app, but not through Assistant voice commands. Google has confirmed it's investigating a bug preventing users from controlling their smart lights through Google Assistant voice commands. We first reported on the issue over the weekend, as user complaints have continued to pile up on Reddit and Google's support forums in recent days. Android Authority's Rita El Khoury also experienced the problem firsthand, noting that her Nest Audio speaker stopped responding to voice commands to turn off the lights. In a comment posted on Reddit, the official Google Nest account has now addressed the problem: We're aware of an issue with using voice commands to control some lights. We'll share an update as soon as possible, thanks for your patience. While Google hasn't provided a timeline for a fix, it's clear the issue is more than a small glitch. Affected users report various problems, including Google not recognizing light groups, turning off the wrong lights, or responding with silence when given commands like 'Hey Google, turn off the lights.' Most users say the lights can still be controlled via the Google Home app, suggesting that the issue lies specifically with Assistant voice functionality. Some users have found workarounds, such as syncing devices again or removing and re-adding their lighting services, but results vary. 'I had this problem too. I saw someone else post a fix earlier today (Google must have done something that messed things up). You just need to reconnect the service you use for your lights. Go to Google Home app, click the + button to add a new device. Go to the works with Google section and reconnect any of the services you use for the lights. That should work… Maybe,' a user noted on Reddit. However, this may not be an easy fix for those who have multiple lights connected throughout their home. The bug comes at a difficult time for Google's smart home ecosystem, which has been under increased scrutiny from users citing reliability issues. Google has also promised major improvements to the platform in the fall. Until then, users will have to wait for an official fix for this particular problem related to voice commands for connected lights or rely on manual controls as a workaround.
