River, a bitcoin-focused financial services company, published research in July showing that 49.6 million Americans now hold bitcoin, overtaking the 28.8 million Americans who own gold for the first time on record. The firm reported that bitcoin ownership among American adults reached 18.6% of the adult population, while gold ownership stands at 10.8%. River attributed the shift to favorable regulation, low barriers to entry through exchanges and mobile apps, and American cultural tendencies toward individual investing and financial self-reliance.
Americans Hold 42% of Global Bitcoin Supply
Americans collectively hold approximately 42% of all bitcoin in global circulation, according to River's report. The concentration makes the United States what the firm described as the "global bitcoin superpower." Bitcoin has existed for around 16 years since the Bitcoin network launched in January 2009, while gold has served as a store of value for roughly 5,000 years. River's findings indicate that an asset with a fraction of gold's track record has built a larger base of individual American owners than gold has after millennia.
![Bitcoin ownership data chart]()
Bitcoin ownership statistics from River's July report
US Government and Public Companies Hold 1.5 Million BTC Combined
The U.S. government holds 328,372 BTC, according to onchain data confirming the federal crypto stockpile, worth more than $23 billion at recent prices. That reserve, built up largely through asset seizures, has become a focal point of ongoing legislative efforts, including bills introduced this year to formally codify a strategic bitcoin reserve with long-term holding requirements and a target of accumulating up to 1 million BTC.
Public companies headquartered in the country hold roughly 1.24 million BTC, according to River, representing 92.7% of all bitcoin held by publicly traded companies worldwide. The concentration reflects how dominant US-listed firms have become in corporate bitcoin treasury strategy. Mining infrastructure shows that the U.S. accounts for 37.5% of Bitcoin's global hashrate and that more than 150 bitcoin-related companies, spanning exchanges, custodians, miners, and payment processors, are now headquartered domestically.
Bitcoin Adoption Rate Climbed Four Percentage Points in Six Months
A separate study found that the U.S. bitcoin ownership rate stood at 14.3% at the start of the year, meaning the rate climbed more than four percentage points in roughly six months under River's latest measurement. Several large U.S. asset managers have opened bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) distribution to their clients this year, putting bitcoin in front of financial advisors who previously had little reason to discuss the asset with retail clients, according to River's report. That distribution shift, combined with rising direct ownership, implies that bitcoin is moving from a niche holding to a more standard part of American household balance sheets.
FAQ
How many Americans hold bitcoin compared to gold?
River's July report found that 49.6 million Americans hold bitcoin, representing 18.6% of the adult population, while 28.8 million Americans, or 10.8%, own gold.
What percentage of global bitcoin supply do Americans hold?
Americans collectively hold approximately 42% of all bitcoin in global circulation, according to River's research.
How much bitcoin does the US government hold?
The U.S. government holds 328,372 BTC, according to onchain data, worth more than $23 billion at recent prices. The reserve was built up largely through asset seizures.
