Gold had a title of 5,000 years. Bitcoin is 16 years old. And when Bitcoin passed $77,000 this week, an interesting fact has returned – more Americans own Bitcoin than gold.
The current US Bitcoin establishment report, based on data from The Nakamoto Project and the Gold IRA Guide, puts the figure at 50 million Bitcoin owners in the US and 37 million gold owners. That’s a 35% difference.
How America Became the World’s Largest Bitcoin Economy
The US doesn’t just lead the way in personal ownership. Americans own 40% of the world’s Bitcoin transactions – more than any other country. US public companies own 94.8% of all Bitcoin companies in the world. The US government itself holds approximately 198,000 BTC, representing 65% of all government-held Bitcoin in the world.
The US has the world’s gold reserves at 8,133 tonnes – yet even those are being questioned by the public.
River made the change into two things: access and culture. Good law, almost zero barriers to entry, and an American instinct for personal investment and financial freedom.
What Americans Are Saying About Gold Reserves
Crossover ownership is one thing. People’s opinions are different.
A separate survey by The Nakamoto Project, conducted by Qualtrics across 3,345 Americans, found that 4 out of 5 Americans would support converting a portion of US gold reserves to Bitcoin. The median opinion was 10%. For Americans under 45, it was 24%.
It is the division of generation into one number.
“The American Story Began With Money”
“The story of America began with sound money. Hard-working Americans kept their wealth in gold. River said in the report.
One caveat to remember: the data counts anyone who has $50 on Coinbase as the main owner. The depth of ownership is not the same. Gold is still the main asset of banks and the central bank.
But the way to go is clear. Bitcoin ETFs hit $10 billion in assets in seven weeks. It took the first gold ETF more than two years. Bitcoin’s daily price movements are approaching those of gold and the S&P 500.
The property that spent a decade being called a scam just turned gold into American ownership. And according to River, the US is “they have the opportunity to advance their wealth and global leadership by embracing their opportunity to adopt Bitcoin.”
Why This Matters Now
This data is not unusual. But the story around in 2026 is.
Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Vanguard have all opened the distribution of Bitcoin ETFs to their clients this year – meaning that tens of thousands of financial advisors are now promoting exposure to Bitcoin for the first time. Goldman Sachs says 71% of institutional investors plan to increase their crypto holdings in the next 12 months.
The CLARITY Act is nearing a final vote in the Senate, and discussions on JPMorgan’s reports are on two or three unresolved issues. If it passes, it will give Bitcoin the stable legal status that gold has had for centuries — and the XRP ETF alone is expected to hit $5 billion behind it.
Each of these developments is different when you know that 50 million Americans own property and are seeing it.
Trust CoinPedia:
CoinPedia has been providing accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our team of expert researchers and journalists, following strict Editorial guidelines based on EEAT (Effectiveness, Expertise, Validity, Trustworthiness). Each article is checked against a reputable site to ensure accuracy, visibility, and credibility. Our review process ensures an unbiased review when we develop exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates on all aspects of crypto & blockchain, from startups to industry executives.
Investment Disclaimer:
All opinions and information shared represent the author’s opinion on market conditions. Please do your own research before making any financial decisions. Neither the author nor the publisher is responsible for your financial decisions.
Offers and Promotions:
Sponsored content and affiliate links can be viewed on our website. Advertisements are clearly identifiable, and our content is not independent of our advertisers.
