Bitcoin Ownership Surpasses Gold Among Americans for the First Time

Gate News message, April 18 — For the first time, more Americans own Bitcoin than gold—50 million Bitcoin holders versus 37 million gold owners, according to a new report by River drawing on data from The Nakamoto Project and the Gold IRA Guide. As Bitcoin surged past $77,000 this week, the ownership crossover underscores a significant shift in American asset preferences.

Americans hold 40% of the entire global Bitcoin supply, more than any other country. U.S. public companies account for 94.8% of all corporate Bitcoin holdings worldwide, while the U.S. government holds approximately 198,000 BTC, representing 65% of all government-held Bitcoin globally. Despite maintaining the world's largest national gold reserve at 8,133 tonnes, public opinion is shifting. A survey by The Nakamoto Project across 3,345 Americans found that 4 in 5 support converting some portion of U.S. gold reserves into Bitcoin, with a median recommendation of 10%—rising to 24% for Americans under 45.

Institutional adoption is accelerating. Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Vanguard have opened Bitcoin ETF distribution to clients in 2026, while Goldman Sachs reports that 71% of institutional investors plan to increase their crypto allocation over the next 12 months. Bitcoin ETFs reached $10 billion in assets in seven weeks, compared to over two years for the first gold ETF. The CLARITY Act is nearing a final Senate vote and could grant Bitcoin permanent legal status, potentially unlocking additional institutional inflows.