TL;DR
- The number of crypto millionaires rose 40% year-over-year, reaching 241,700 individuals with a market value of $3.3 trillion.
- About 60% of the new crypto wealthy come from Bitcoin, and 450 hold $100 M or more, following a “historic” wealth boom.
- Global crypto users are estimated at 590 M, led by Singapore, Hong Kong, and the U.S., while digital wealth challenges traditional banking.
The number of cryptocurrency millionaires increased 40% year-over-year, reaching nearly 242,000 people, according to a new report by Henley & Partners in collaboration with New World Wealth. The study estimates that the industry has created 36 billionaires and 241,700 millionaires, with a total market value exceeding $3.3 trillion, up 45% from the previous year.
Bitcoin Wealth
The report details that 17 of the 36 crypto billionaires come from Bitcoin, driven by a 55% annual growth in what the authors describe as a “historic” wealth boom. About 60% of the new crypto millionaires have fortunes tied to Bitcoin, while 450 hold $100 million or more. This surge in wealth coincides with a pivotal year for institutional adoption and the creation of cryptocurrencies supported by U.S. political figures.
Globally, the total number of cryptocurrency users is estimated at 590 million, roughly 7.4% of the world population, with 295 million holding Bitcoin, a 7% increase from last year. Despite this rapid growth, the 241,700 millionaires represent just 0.4% of the approximately 60 million millionaires worldwide, according to UBS. The study’s methodology combines on-chain data, public exchange information, and financial behavior tracking of over 150,000 high-net-worth individuals.
Jan3 CEO Samson Mow points out that Bitcoin’s finite supply, capped at 21 million, contrasts with the infinite expansion of fiat currency, creating “the defining paradox of our age” by providing a form of wealth outside government control.
Millionaires Without Address or ID
The report also ranks countries based on crypto adoption. Singapore, Hong Kong, and the U.S. lead the overall adoption index, excelling in innovation, infrastructure, and public uptake. Australia and Singapore top the list for favorable regulation, while Monaco and the UAE lead in tax incentives. These countries also offer migration programs for digital asset investors, enabling alternative residence or citizenship.
Dominic Volek, Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners, warns that cryptocurrency wealth challenges the structure of modern finance, allowing individuals to store vast sums without a physical address or tax ID, instantly accessible from anywhere. The rise of this new wealth class forces governments, tax authorities, and wealth managers to adapt to an unprecedented reality, where geographic location is no longer a requirement to control significant capital
