U.S. Leads the World in Bitcoin Ownership, New Report Shows

A River report indicates the U.S. leads in Bitcoin ownership, holding 40% of the global supply, with 14.3% of the population owning Bitcoin. U.S. public companies, controlling a combined $1.26 trillion market cap, hold 94.8% of Bitcoin owned by publicly traded firms, with Strategy leading at 569,000 BTC. Since 2021, the U.S. has also become the top Bitcoin mining nation, responsible for 38% of new Bitcoin mined due to its stable regulatory environment and capital markets, and Bitcoin is emerging as America’s preferred reserve asset, overtaking gold.

Analysis

A new report from River indicates the United States has established a dominant global position in Bitcoin, holding approximately 40% of the total available supply, with 14.3% of its population owning the asset—a figure surpassing the combined ownership in Europe, Oceania, and Asia. This leadership extends to corporate adoption: 32 U.S. public companies, with a collective market capitalization of $1.26 trillion, hold Bitcoin as a treasury asset, accounting for 94.8% of all Bitcoin owned by publicly traded companies globally. Notable among these are holdings by an entity named 'Strategy' with 569,000 BTC and U.S. mining companies with 96,000 BTC. Since China's 2021 ban, the U.S. has also become the leading Bitcoin mining nation, producing 38% of all new Bitcoin, a shift attributed to its stable regulatory environment, deep capital markets, and abundant energy, contributing to a more than 500% increase in its global Bitcoin mining hashrate share since 2020. Indicating a shift in asset preference, Bitcoin is reportedly emerging as America’s preferred reserve asset over gold, with 49.6 million Americans favoring Bitcoin compared to 36.7 million preferring gold; the U.S. government's Bitcoin advantage is also noted as greater than its 29.9% share of global central bank gold reserves. This trend is underpinned by growing political support, with 59% of U.S. Senators and 66% of House Representatives openly favoring pro-Bitcoin policies, signaling increased acceptance. Reinforcing this, the White House, in a statement dated March 7, 2025, highlighted the strategic advantage for nations creating Bitcoin reserves due to its fixed supply. The report further details that U.S. Bitcoin ownership is concentrated among males aged 31-35 and 41-45 and is more prevalent among individuals identifying as 'very liberal' or 'neutral,' though conservative ownership remains significant.

Key Decisions for Investors

• The significant US dominance in Bitcoin ownership, corporate adoption, and mining, coupled with burgeoning political support and positive sentiment, suggests a favorable environment for Bitcoin-related investments with a US nexus.
• Investors should closely monitor ongoing US regulatory developments and the pace of institutional adoption, including corporate treasury allocations and potential government-level strategic reserve considerations mentioned in the report, as key catalysts.
• The trend of Bitcoin emerging as a preferred reserve asset over gold among Americans and its adoption by U.S. corporations reinforces its potential as a long-term store of value and a component for portfolio diversification, warranting consideration by institutional investors.