Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally has shaken up the ranks of the world’s wealthiest, and its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has quietly surged past one of tech’s most iconic names.
According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, the wallet long believed to belong to Nakamoto—holding roughly 1.096 million BTC—is now worth an estimated $130.7 billion. That valuation places him 12th on the global rich list, overtaking Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, whose net worth stands at $122 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Arkham Intelligence
For context, Walmart heirs Jim Walton and Rob Walton hold 13th and 14th positions with net worths of $125 billion and $122 billion, respectively.
Nakamoto’s leap in wealth coincides with Bitcoin’s recent climb past $124,000 before settling just above $119,100 at press time. At its peak, Satoshi’s holdings briefly reached $136 billion. Bitcoin’s meteoric rise from under $1 to today’s prices marks an astonishing gain of over 192 million percent, with a 105% jump in 2025 alone.
Despite his staggering fortune, Nakamoto’s wallet has remained largely untouched for years. The identity behind the pseudonym is still a mystery, and the few movements in his wallet have been rare. The latest came on June 30, when 0.185 BTC (worth about $20,000 at the time) was sent from an unknown address. Earlier in February, another transfer worth $200,000 arrived from a Binance account. Analysts believe such transactions are either accidental or symbolic tributes from Bitcoin supporters.
One of the more notable gestures occurred in January 2024, when 26.9 BTC—then valued at $1.19 million—was sent to another Satoshi-linked wallet just two days after Bitcoin’s 15th anniversary. That wallet now holds 104.3 BTC, valued at $12.4 million today.
With Bitcoin’s trajectory showing no signs of slowing, Satoshi Nakamoto’s fortune could climb even higher, potentially leapfrogging more household names on the billionaire leaderboard.
