The number of crypto millionaires worldwide has jumped 40% in the past year, with nearly 250,000 individuals now holding fortunes in digital assets, according to a new wealth report from Henley & Partners and global intelligence firm New World Wealth.
The study estimates that the crypto industry has minted 241,700 millionaires and 36 billionaires, bringing total crypto wealth to over $3.3 trillion — a 45% increase from last year. Of those billionaires, nearly half — 17 — owe their fortunes to bitcoin, which saw a 55% surge in wealth creation that analysts call “historic.”
Bitcoin continues to dominate the sector, accounting for about 60% of all crypto millionaires. The report also counts 450 “centimillionaires” with holdings of $100 million or more, highlighting how wealth concentration remains significant within the market.
While striking, the crypto wealth boom is still small compared to traditional finance. The report notes that crypto millionaires represent just 0.4% of the estimated 60 million millionaires globally, according to UBS’s latest global wealth figures.
UBS
A Growing Investor Base
Henley & Partners estimates that 590 million people worldwide now own some form of cryptocurrency — roughly 7.4% of the global population and up 5% from last year. Bitcoin holders alone number around 295 million, a 7% year-over-year rise.
JAN3 CEO Samson Mow said the philosophical contrast between fiat and bitcoin underscores the shift.
“Over any long-time horizon, fiat currency has one destiny: infinity. Bitcoin, on the contrary, has the opposite: 21 million,” he said, describing the clash between government-backed money and a finite digital alternative as “the defining paradox of our age.”
Adoption Hotspots
The report also ranks countries on their crypto adoption environment. Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States lead the index overall, with each excelling in different areas: the U.S. in public adoption, Hong Kong in infrastructure, and Singapore in innovation.
Australia and Singapore top the list for regulatory frameworks, while Monaco and the UAE score highest for tax friendliness. These jurisdictions are also key destinations for wealthy crypto investors seeking alternative residency or citizenship through investment migration programs.
A Challenge to Traditional Finance
Henley & Partners’ Group Head of Private Clients, Dominic Volek, noted that the rise of crypto wealth challenges traditional financial structures.
“While roughly $14.4 trillion worth of wealth crossed national borders in 2024, the entire architecture of modern finance assumes that money has a home address — but cryptocurrency doesn’t,” he said. “With nothing more than 12 memorized words, an individual can secure a billion dollars in bitcoin, instantly accessible from Zurich or Zhengzhou alike.”
The Bigger Picture
Crypto’s growing wealth class is forcing governments, regulators, and wealth managers to rethink their strategies. While its share of global wealth remains relatively small, the pace of growth and the decentralized nature of crypto suggest its impact on global finance is only beginning.
