Bitcoin is the largest blockchain-based digital asset, with a market capitalization of $ billion as of December It is wildly popular among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and speculative investors. Several wealthy business owners and entrepreneurs have invested heavily in this digital asset. Here are the leading investors in Bitcoin, compiled from financial reports and media outlets.

1. Barry Silbert

Barry Silbert is the founder and chief executive officer of Digital Currency Group, bitcoin investor world. The company aims to accelerate the development of the global financial system by building and supporting bitcoin and blockchain companies. Digital Currency Group has invested in more than blockchain- and cryptocurrency-related companies.

Other portfolio companies include Genesis, a liquidity provider—an entity that funds a pool with cryptocurrency—for cryptocurrency buyers and sellers in the over-the-counter market. Digital Currency Group also owns Grayscale Investments, which manages the Bitcoin Investment Trust (GBTC), an investment vehicle that holdsbitcoin and gives investors exposure to its price movements.

2. Micheal Saylor

The co-founder and CEO of business intelligence firm Microstrategy, Micheal Saylor, believes bitcoin investor world cryptocurrency is the next biggest investment. Microstrategy increased its bitcoin holdings in Decemberpurchasing 1, bitcoin investor world, bitcoins for about $84 million. The company holds a total ofbitcoins.

3. Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are investors in several cryptocurrencies and blockchain-related businesses, most notably the privately-owned Gemini exchange. They are believed to be the first to reach billionaire status by investing in bitcoin, bitcoin investor world holding aboutcoins worth around $ billion as of Bitcoin investor world

The Winklevoss twins launched the Gemini exchange in The company allows investors to buy, sell and store their digital assets. Gemini launched bitcoin futures on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) in December

In addition to bitcoin, the brothers are heavily invested in ethereum, although they have not revealed their exact holdings.

4. Elon Musk

Elon Musk is the CEO and co-founder of Tesla (and other companies). Tesla engineers and builds electric vehicles and clean energy products. As an innovative company standing at the forefront of technology, bitcoin investor world, it should be expected that it would own cryptocurrency—Tesla purchased $ billion worth of bitcoin in to begin accepting it as a form of payment.

5. Michael Novogratz 

Michael Novogratz, a former hedge fund manager at Fortress Investment Group and partner at Goldman Sachs, is a frequent commentator on bitcoin price action. He is the founder, CEO, and chair of Galaxy Digital Holdings, a broker-dealer that offers a full range of blockchain-related asset services.

Galaxy Digital focuses on digital assets; in the third quarter ofit purchased $62 million worth of non-fungible make money fast working from home (NFT) related companies. NFTs are digital assets that use blockchain technology for security and ownership identification. They became popular in after digital art secured by NFT technology began selling for millions of dollars.

Galaxy reports $ billion in "unrestricted" cryptocurrency in its third-quarter financial report, bitcoin investor world, of which $ million are held in managed funds and $ million are held in General Partner interest. It's likely that the company holds roughly $ million in bitcoin as of its third-quarter report.

Investing in cryptocurrencies and other Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or other ICOs, bitcoin investor world. Since each individual's situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes bitcoin investor world representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein. As of the date this article was written, the author owns Bitcoin.

From Bitcoin and Ethereum to Dogecoin and Tether, there are thousands of different cryptocurrencies, which can make it overwhelming when you’re first getting started in the world of crypto. To help you get your bearings, these are the top 10 cryptocurrencies based on their market capitalization, or the bitcoin investor world value of all of the coins currently in circulation.

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

• Market cap: Over $ billion

Created in by someone under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin (BTC) is the original cryptocurrency. As with most cryptocurrencies, BTC runs on a blockchain, or a ledger logging transactions distributed across a network of thousands of computers. Because additions to the distributed ledgers must be verified by solving a cryptographic puzzle, a process called proof of work, Bitcoin is kept secure and safe from fraudsters.

Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed as it’s become a household name. In Mayyou could buy a Bitcoin for about $ As of March 1,a single Bitcoin’s price was over $44, That’s growth of about 7,%.

Related:How To Buy Bitcoin

2. Ethereum (ETH)

• Market cap: Over $ billion

Both a cryptocurrency and a blockchain platform, Ethereum is a favorite of program developers because of its potential applications, like so-called smart contracts that automatically execute when conditions are met and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Ethereum has also experienced tremendous growth. From April to the beginning of Marchits price went from about $11 to over $3, increasing more than 27,%.

Related:How To Buy Ethereum

3. Tether (USDT)

• Market cap: Over $79 billion

Unlike some other forms of cryptocurrency, Tether is a stablecoin, meaning it&#;s backed by fiat currencies like U.S, bitcoin investor world. dollars and the Euro and hypothetically keeps a value equal to one of those denominations. In theory, this means Tether’s value is supposed to be more consistent than other cryptocurrencies, bitcoin investor world, and it’s favored by investors who are wary of the extreme volatility of other coins.

4. Binance Coin (BNB)

• Market cap: Over $68 billion

The Binance Coin is a form of cryptocurrency that you can use to trade and pay fees on Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world.

Since its launch inBinance Coin has expanded past merely facilitating trades on Binance’s exchange platform. Now, it can be used for trading, payment processing or even booking bitcoin investor world arrangements. It can also be traded or exchanged for other forms of cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum or Bitcoin.

BNB&#;s price in was just $ By the beginning of Marchits price had risen to around $, a bitcoin investor world of approximately ,%.

Related:How To Buy Cryptocurrency

5. U.S, bitcoin investor world. Dollar Coin (USDC)

• Market cap: Over $53 billion

Like Tether, USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin, meaning it’s backed by U.S. dollars and aims for a 1 USD to 1 USDC ratio. USDC is powered by Ethereum, and you can use USD Coin to complete global transactions.

6. XRP (XRP)

• Market cap: Over $37 billion

Created by some of the same founders as Ripple, a digital technology and payment processing company, XRP can be used on that network to facilitate exchanges of different currency types, including fiat currencies and other major cryptocurrencies.

At the beginning ofthe price of XRP was $ As of March,bitcoin investor world, its price reached $, equal to a rise of more than 12,%.

7. Terra (LUNA)

• Market cap: Over $34 billion

Terra is a blockchain payment platform for stablecoins that relies on keeping a balance between two types of cryptocurrencies. Terra-backed stablecoins, such as TerraUSD, are tied to the value of physical currencies. Their counterweight, Luna, powers the the Terra platform and is used to mint more Terra stablecoins.

Terra stablecoins and Luna work in concert according to supply and demand: When a stablecoin&#;s price rises above its tied currency&#;s value, users are incentivized to burn their Luna to create more of that Terra stablecoin. Likewise, when its value falls compared to its base currency, this encourages users to burn their Terra stablecoins to mint more Luna, bitcoin investor world. As adoption of the Terra platforms grows, so too does the value of Luna.

From Jan. 3,when its price was $, to the beginning of MarchLuna has risen over 14,% to $

8. Cardano (ADA)

• Market cap: Over $33 billion

Somewhat later to the crypto scene, Cardano is notable for its early embrace of proof-of-stake validation, bitcoin investor world. This method expedites transaction time and decreases energy usage and environmental impact by removing the competitive, problem-solving aspect of transaction verification present in platforms like Bitcoin. Cardano also works like Ethereum to enable smart contracts and decentralized applications, which are powered by ADA, its native coin.

Cardano’s ADA token has had relatively modest growth compared bitcoin investor world other major crypto coins. InADA’s price was $ As of March 1, bitcoin investor world,its price was at $ This is an increase of 4,%.

9. Solana (SOL)

• Market cap: Over $33 billion

Developed to help power decentralized finance (DeFi) uses, decentralized apps (DApps) and smart contracts, Solana runs on a unique hybrid proof-of-stake and proof-of-history mechanisms that help it process transactions quickly and securely. SOL, Solana&#;s native token, powers the platform.

When it launched inSOL&#;s price started at $ By March 1,its price was around $, a gain of nearly 13,%.

Avalanche (AVAX)

• Market cap: Over $22 billion

Similar to Ethereum and Cardano, Avalanche provides blockchain software that can create and execute smart contracts powered by a native token (in this case, AVAX). Since its launch inAvalanche has rapidly grown, thanks in no small part to its comparatively low gas fees and fast transaction processing speeds.

From July 12,to March 1,AVAX&#;s price has risen more than 1,%, from $ to $

*Market caps and pricing current as of March 1,

Crypto FAQs

From Bitcoin and Ethereum to Dogecoin and Tether, there are thousands of different cryptocurrencies, which can make it overwhelming when you’re first getting started in the world of crypto. To help you get your bearings, these are the top 10 cryptocurrencies based on their market capitalization, or the total value of all of the coins currently in circulation.

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

• Market cap: Over $ billion

Created in by someone under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin (BTC) is the original cryptocurrency. As with most cryptocurrencies, BTC runs on a blockchain, or a ledger logging transactions distributed across a network of thousands of computers. Because additions to the distributed ledgers must be verified by solving a cryptographic puzzle, a process called proof of work, Bitcoin is kept secure and safe from fraudsters.

Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed as it’s become a household name. In May , you could buy a Bitcoin for about $ As of March 1, , a single Bitcoin’s price was over $44, That’s growth of about 7,%.

Related:How To Buy Bitcoin

2. Ethereum (ETH)

• Market cap: Over $ billion

Both a cryptocurrency and a blockchain platform, Ethereum is a favorite of program developers because of its potential applications, like so-called smart contracts that automatically execute when conditions are met and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Ethereum has also experienced tremendous growth. From April to the beginning of March , its price went from about $11 to over $3,, increasing more than 27,%.

Related:How To Buy Ethereum

3. Tether (USDT)

• Market cap: Over $79 billion

Unlike some other forms of cryptocurrency, Tether is a stablecoin, meaning it&#;s backed by fiat currencies like U.S. dollars and the Euro and hypothetically keeps a value equal to one of those denominations. In theory, this means Tether’s value is supposed to be more consistent than other cryptocurrencies, and it’s favored by investors who are wary of the extreme volatility of other coins.

4. Binance Coin (BNB)

• Market cap: Over $68 billion

The Binance Coin is a form of cryptocurrency that you can use to trade and pay fees on Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world.

Since its launch in , Binance Coin has expanded past merely facilitating trades on Binance’s exchange platform. Now, it can be used for trading, payment processing or even booking travel arrangements. It can also be traded or exchanged for other forms of cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum or Bitcoin.

BNB&#;s price in was just $ By the beginning of March , its price had risen to around $, a gain of approximately ,%.

Related:How To Buy Cryptocurrency

5. U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC)

• Market cap: Over $53 billion

Like Tether, USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin, meaning it’s backed by U.S. dollars and aims for a 1 USD to 1 USDC ratio. USDC is powered by Ethereum, and you can use USD Coin to complete global transactions.

6. XRP (XRP)

• Market cap: Over $37 billion

Created by some of the same founders as Ripple, a digital technology and payment processing company, XRP can be used on that network to facilitate exchanges of different currency types, including fiat currencies and other major cryptocurrencies.

At the beginning of , the price of XRP was $ As of March, , its price reached $, equal to a rise of more than 12,%.

7. Terra (LUNA)

• Market cap: Over $34 billion

Terra is a blockchain payment platform for stablecoins that relies on keeping a balance between two types of cryptocurrencies. Terra-backed stablecoins, such as TerraUSD, are tied to the value of physical currencies. Their counterweight, Luna, powers the the Terra platform and is used to mint more Terra stablecoins.

Terra stablecoins and Luna work in concert according to supply and demand: When a stablecoin&#;s price rises above its tied currency&#;s value, users are incentivized to burn their Luna to create more of that Terra stablecoin. Likewise, when its value falls compared to its base currency, this encourages users to burn their Terra stablecoins to mint more Luna. As adoption of the Terra platforms grows, so too does the value of Luna.

From Jan. 3, , when its price was $, to the beginning of March , Luna has risen over 14,% to $

8. Cardano (ADA)

• Market cap: Over $33 billion

Somewhat later to the crypto scene, Cardano is notable for its early embrace of proof-of-stake validation. This method expedites transaction time and decreases energy usage and environmental impact by removing the competitive, problem-solving aspect of transaction verification present in platforms like Bitcoin. Cardano also works like Ethereum to enable smart contracts and decentralized applications, which are powered by ADA, its native coin.

Cardano’s ADA token has had relatively modest growth compared to other major crypto coins. In , ADA’s price was $ As of March 1, , its price was at $ This is an increase of 4,%.

9. Solana (SOL)

• Market cap: Over $33 billion

Developed to help power decentralized finance (DeFi) uses, decentralized apps (DApps) and smart contracts, Solana runs on a unique hybrid proof-of-stake and proof-of-history mechanisms that help it process transactions quickly and securely. SOL, Solana&#;s native token, powers the platform.

When it launched in , SOL&#;s price started at $ By March 1, , its price was around $, a gain of nearly 13,%.

Avalanche (AVAX)

• Market cap: Over $22 billion

Similar to Ethereum and Cardano, Avalanche provides blockchain software that can create and execute smart contracts powered by a native token (in this case, AVAX). Since its launch in , Avalanche has rapidly grown, thanks in no small part to its comparatively low gas fees and fast transaction processing speeds.

From July 12, , to March 1, , AVAX&#;s price has risen more than 1,%, from $ to $

*Market caps and pricing current as of March 1,

Crypto FAQs

Bitcoin is the largest blockchain-based digital asset, with a market capitalization of $ billion as of December It is wildly popular among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and speculative investors. Several wealthy business owners and entrepreneurs have invested heavily in this digital asset. Here are the leading investors in Bitcoin, compiled from financial reports and media outlets.

1. Barry Silbert

Barry Silbert is the founder and chief executive officer of Digital Currency Group. The company aims to accelerate the development of the global financial system by building and supporting bitcoin and blockchain companies. Digital Currency Group has invested in more than blockchain- and cryptocurrency-related companies.

Other portfolio companies include Genesis, a liquidity provider—an entity that funds a pool with cryptocurrency—for cryptocurrency buyers and sellers in the over-the-counter market. Digital Currency Group also owns Grayscale Investments, which manages the Bitcoin Investment Trust (GBTC), an investment vehicle that holds , bitcoin and gives investors exposure to its price movements.

2. Micheal Saylor

The co-founder and CEO of business intelligence firm Microstrategy, Micheal Saylor, believes that cryptocurrency is the next biggest investment. Microstrategy increased its bitcoin holdings in December , purchasing 1, bitcoins for about $84 million. The company holds a total of , bitcoins.

3. Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are investors in several cryptocurrencies and blockchain-related businesses, most notably the privately-owned Gemini exchange. They are believed to be the first to reach billionaire status by investing in bitcoin, reportedly holding about , coins worth around $ billion as of December

The Winklevoss twins launched the Gemini exchange in The company allows investors to buy, sell and store their digital assets. Gemini launched bitcoin futures on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) in December

In addition to bitcoin, the brothers are heavily invested in ethereum, although they have not revealed their exact holdings.

4. Elon Musk

Elon Musk is the CEO and co-founder of Tesla (and other companies). Tesla engineers and builds electric vehicles and clean energy products. As an innovative company standing at the forefront of technology, it should be expected that it would own cryptocurrency—Tesla purchased $ billion worth of bitcoin in to begin accepting it as a form of payment.

5. Michael Novogratz 

Michael Novogratz, a former hedge fund manager at Fortress Investment Group and partner at Goldman Sachs, is a frequent commentator on bitcoin price action. He is the founder, CEO, and chair of Galaxy Digital Holdings, a broker-dealer that offers a full range of blockchain-related asset services.

Galaxy Digital focuses on digital assets; in the third quarter of , it purchased $62 million worth of non-fungible token (NFT) related companies. NFTs are digital assets that use blockchain technology for security and ownership identification. They became popular in after digital art secured by NFT technology began selling for millions of dollars.

Galaxy reports $ billion in "unrestricted" cryptocurrency in its third-quarter financial report, of which $ million are held in managed funds and $ million are held in General Partner interest. It's likely that the company holds roughly $ million in bitcoin as of its third-quarter report.

Investing in cryptocurrencies and other Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or other ICOs. Since each individual's situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein. As of the date this article was written, the author owns Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is a digital asset and payment system with a market capitalization of around $ billion as of Jan. 3, It is considered by many to be one of the most successful digital currencies ever created. The first-ever bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) was launched in October , pushing the cryptocurrency to new all-time highs.

Bitcoin’s stratospheric rise since has created a surprising and diverse set of millionaires. These millionaires have made money by creating products to grow Bitcoin’s still-nascent ecosystem. For example, some have created exchanges for trading the cryptocurrency and its derivatives. Others have used it to create financial products and tokens that have minted millions. Their products and services have benefited from a surge in popularity and price for Bitcoin.

Of course, Bitcoin was—and still is—a risky asset class. The absence of regulatory guardrails and the cryptocurrency’s price volatility have attracted criminals and investors alike. But those drawbacks only serve to highlight the achievements of Bitcoin millionaires because they not only were early adopters but also predicted its economic opportunity.

Sam Bankman-Fried

Sam Bankman-Fried’s ascent to crypto billionaire status has been fairly rapid. The year-old MIT grad founded FTX, one of the world’s most popular crypto exchanges, in and he was estimated to be worth $ billion in October by Forbes. FTX differentiates itself from competition by offering a slate of innovative products unavailable at other exchanges. This mix includes sophisticated derivatives, digital tokens of physical stock, and pre-initial public offering (IPO) contracts.

Bankman-Fried generated headlines when he made a donation of more than $5 million to current U.S. President Joe Biden’s campaign in He is a California native and vegan who calls himself an effective altruist—someone who maximizes his social impact across a broad range of societal initiatives.

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss parlayed the millions that they earned from their lawsuit against Facebook into cryptocurrencies. They became the first billionaires in the crypto ecosystem after the late surge in Bitcoin prices. Forbes estimates their net worth at $5 billion each.

While most of their estimated wealth comes from investments in cryptocurrencies, the Winklevoss twins are also entrepreneurs who started the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange. The exchange was valued at $ billion after its $ million fundraising in November They also own Nifty Gateway, a platform to buy and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Barry Silbert

Barry Silbert is the chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Digital Currency Group (DCG). Forbes lists his net worth as $ billion.

The company’s mission is to accelerate the development of the global financial system. It does this by building and supporting Bitcoin and blockchain companies. Through DCG, Silbert has broadened his reach across various industries.

One is media. In January , DCG acquired CoinDesk, a leading source of Bitcoin news, which runs the annual Bitcoin industry conference, Consensus. Silbert’s company also owns Genesis, a market-making and trading firm focused on digital currencies, and Grayscale, a company focused on digital currency investing. Silbert also started Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), an ETF that tracks the price of Bitcoin.

The total number of assets under management (AUM) for Grayscale surged to more than $20 billion during the pandemic. Analysts at J.P. Morgan have even said that the trust’s holdings are key to determining Bitcoin price. Silbert has invested in more than Bitcoin- and blockchain-related companies, landing himself the enviable nickname “The King of Crypto.”

Brian Armstrong

Brian Armstrong is the founder of Coinbase, North America’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. He co-founded the exchange in after quitting his job as a software engineer at Airbnb. Armstrong has a 19% stake in Coinbase and is estimated to be worth $ billion by Forbes in January In its billionaire index, Bloomberg had Armstrong’s net worth as $ billion in the same time period.

Due to its easy-to-use interface and credibility, Coinbase is considered the gateway for retail investors to join the crypto ecosystem. The exchange has suffered many hiccups, such as halts in trading, while attempting to scale operations in the midst of crypto volatility. The exchange went public in April and had a total market capitalization of $ billion at the close of trading on Jan. 3, Armstrong has said that he started Coinbase because he wanted the world to have a “global, open financial financial system that drove innovation and freedom.”

Michael Saylor 

Bitcoin has attracted numerous unconventional investors over the years. None, however, has the zeal and enthusiasm of Michael Saylor, CEO of software firm MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR). The firm began acquiring the cryptocurrency in August by snapping up Bitcoin worth $ million. At that time, the firm said it was buying the cryptocurrency to make better use of the cash holdings on its balance sheet.

Over time, Saylor has become a fierce supporter of Bitcoin and appeared on news and cryptocurrency conferences to evangelize its benefits and use cases. By December , MicroStrategy had increased its holdings in Bitcoin to $ billion, swooping in to buy the cryptocurrency during price dips. The strategy has served Saylor and his company well.

MicroStrategy’s stock price has skyrocketed by more than % (as of December ) since it announced the Bitcoin acquisition. Meanwhile, Forbes estimates Saylor’s net worth to be $ billion as a result of his bet on Bitcoin.

Investing in cryptocurrencies and other initial coin offerings (ICOs) is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or other ICOs. Since each individual’s situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein.