The first digital currency and the largest to this day, Bitcoin makes up 60% of the total value of the biggest 250 cryptocurrency coins as of 19 March 2021.
Bitcoin’s founding is the stuff of legend: it was created in 2009 by the alias Satoshi Nakamoto, who had the idea that money shouldn’t be controlled exclusively by a centralized government or agency.
Since then, Bitcoin has smashed all records — notably in December 2017 when it reached more than US$19,000 per coin. It has simply changed the way we think about money.
Key statistics about Bitcoin:
- 17.3 million Bitcoin are in circulation as of 10 December 2019.
- Bitcoin is unrestricted — meaning it isn’t regulated specifically — in 124 countries out of 257.
- The largest holdings in a single Bitcoin address contains 255,502 Bitcoin — or more than US$2.1 billion.
Who uses Bitcoin?
- Women comprise 12.28% of those in the Bitcoin community.
- A 2015 CoinDesk survey revealed that more than 90% of Bitcoin users are male.
- The CoinDesk survey also found that 60% of Bitcoin owners are under 35 years old, and 65.8% identify as white, followed closely by those who identify as Asian.
- Of bitcoin users, most are 25 to 34 years old (46.32%), followed by those aged 35 to 44 (26.76%).
- The most popular fiat currencies to change into Bitcoin are the US dollar and the Japanese yen.
How popular is Bitcoin?
- In the last three months of 2019, each day saw an average 310,507 confirmed Bitcoin transactions.
- More than 1.2 million Redditors subscribe to the r/Bitcoin community.
- In one day — on 7 December 2017 — there were 155.6K tweets about Bitcoin. Interest on Twitter has been dwindling, with only 15.19K Bitcoin tweets recorded on 10 December 2019.
More guides on Finder
-
How can bitcoin compete in the money transfer market?
Is Bitcoin a viable way to transfer money? Learn how it compares to more traditional services here.
-
How to mine Bitcoin (BTC)
Is Bitcoin mining still a profitable venture? In this article we explain the basics, outline the steps involved and discuss the costs to consider.
-
Bitcoin (BTC) price prediction October 2024
A panel of industry specialists give us their predictions on the price of Bitcoin to 2030.
-
Bitcoin vs Ethereum
What exactly is the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum? A beginner’s guide to Bitcoin vs Ethereum.
-
How to sell Bitcoin in 4 steps in Canada
Finding the right way to sell Bitcoin is just as important as finding the right option to buy it. In this guide, we break down the options available and the factors to consider.
-
Can I buy Bitcoin with PayPal in Canada?
PayPal users in the US can trade Bitcoin and other cryptos. Find out if you can buy Bitcoin with PayPal in Canada too.
-
How to buy Bitcoin with a credit card in Canada
Buying Bitcoin and other cryptos with a credit card can be done, but it’s generally not a good idea.
-
11 crypto scams to avoid
A round-up of the most common crypto scams and how to detect and avoid them.
-
How to buy Bitcoin (BTC) in Canada
Buy Bitcoin in Canada with your preferred payment method, and find the lowest fees in this step-by-step guide.