As Bitcoin approaches the 17th anniversary of its whitepaper publication on October 31, 2025, the cryptocurrency's enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has witnessed a staggering $5 billion loss in the value of his holdings within a 24-hour period. Data from Arkham Intelligence reveals that Satoshi's wallets, which contain an estimated 1.1 million BTC, saw their value drop by approximately $4.9 billion, reducing the total to around $118.4 billion. This decline occurred as Bitcoin's price fell from about $108,000 to below $107,000, exacerbating market unease.
Despite the loss, Satoshi remains the largest individual Bitcoin holder, controlling over 5% of the total supply, and his wealth still exceeds that of prominent figures like Bill Gates. The wallets have remained inactive for 15 years, with no transactions recorded, and they are part of an estimated 3-4 million BTC that are permanently lost, highlighting Bitcoin's scarcity. In contrast, the second-largest holder, Michael Saylor's MicroStrategy, holds about 640,808 BTC, or roughly 3% of the supply.
The sell-off has dampened investor sentiment, with retail and institutional players retreating despite the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut, which typically supports crypto assets. Experts, including Ray Youssef, have voiced concerns that Bitcoin's growing ties to governments deviate from Satoshi's decentralized vision, potentially enabling market manipulation. This symbolic loss on the eve of a key milestone underscores how narratives can shape confidence in the volatile crypto industry.
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