FameEX Hot Topics | Bitcoin Wallets with Balances of $100 or More Approach All-Time Highs

On-chain data indicates that the number of Bitcoin wallets holding at least $100 is approaching all-time highs. Wallets with balances of $100 or more surged from 24 million in January 2024 to nearly 30 million in 2025, reflecting a 25% year-on-year increase. This growth highlights the increasing adoption of Bitcoin across a broad base of users and reinforces its growing role in global finance.

Historically, significant increases in wallet counts holding $100 or more have coincided with Bitcoin bull markets, such as in late 2017 and 2021. A similar surge was observed in 2024 when Bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 milestone, driven largely by institutional interest. The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), further fueled adoption. By the end of 2024, Bitcoin ETF holdings doubled to 1.25 million BTC, with IBIT alone managing over $50 billion in assets.

Bitcoin’s network security has reached unprecedented levels, with the hashrate surpassing 800 exahashes per second (EH/s) in January 2025, marking a 33% increase from 600 EH/s a year earlier. “Bitcoin’s hashrate has recently surpassed the combined computing power of tech giants such as Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, which together contribute less than 1% of Bitcoin’s total network capacity,” according to reports. A higher hashrate enhances the network’s security and reflects strong miner confidence in Bitcoin’s future.

Market sentiment remains bullish, with 86% of Bitcoin in circulation currently “in profit,” according to CryptoQuant. Accumulator addresses — wallets consistently buying Bitcoin without selling — have reached a record pace of 495,000 BTC per month. CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju noted a behavioral divergence among Bitcoin holders, stating that retail investors holding less than 1 BTC are selling, while those with at least 1 BTC are accumulating. He believes the current bull market is in its “early distribution phase.”

Ju further explained that in previous cycles, whales typically offloaded Bitcoin to retail investors. However, this cycle is witnessing a shift, with seasoned retail investors and whales transferring Bitcoin to new retail participants and institutions holding “paper Bitcoin” through ETFs and corporate stocks. Ju anticipates that the final distribution phase, dominated by retail investors, may not occur until mid-2025 or even later. This dynamic suggests a prolonged bullish cycle, driven by strong institutional and retail demand.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for reference only and does not represent any investment advice or the official views of FameEX.