Author: Martin Young, CoinTelegraph; Compiler: Tao Zhu, Golden Finance
New research shows that so far this year, Enterprises are the largest net buyers of Bitcoin, surpassing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and retail investors.
According to Bitcoin investment firm River, companies like Michael Saylor's Strategy have bought more Bitcoin this year than any other category of investors. Data from Strategy shows that the total amount of Bitcoin held by enterprises has increased by 157,000 Bitcoins, worth about $16 billion at current prices.
Strategy contributed 77% of the group's growth, the company reported on X on May 12, adding that it's not just big companies.
"We are seeing businesses across all industries signing up with River. They are bullish on Bitcoin and how it can transform their future," the company noted.
The second-largest category after businesses was ETFs, which increased their net Bitcoin holdings by 49,000 BTC, worth $5 billion, River reported. Following closely behind were governments, which reportedly grew their holdings by about 19,000 BTC, while retail investors or individuals have lost 247,000 BTC this year.
BTC ownership changes in 2025. Source: River
The company said that since 2024, corporate ownership has increased by 154% overall and was broken down by the business category of its clients.
The company revealed that financial and investment companies were the largest buyers of the asset, accounting for 35.7% of the total buyers, followed by technology companies at 16.8%, professional and consulting companies at 16.5%, and the rest were real estate, non-profit organizations, consumer and industrial, healthcare, and energy, agriculture and transportation companies.
Recently, there have been several large corporate acquisitions, such as Strategy’s purchase of 13,390 bitcoins for $1.34 billion and Metaplanet’s addition of 1,241 bitcoins to its vaults, with its holdings surpassing El Salvador’s on May 12.
New entrants into the Bitcoin market in 2025 include video streaming platform Rumble, which made its first bitcoin purchase in March, Hong Kong construction company Ming Shing, and Hong Kong investment company Hong Kong Asia Holdings Limited.
Bitwise reported in April that at least 12 public companies bought bitcoin for the first time in the first quarter of 2025. The firm added that the number of bitcoins held on the books of public companies grew 16% during the period, with more than 95,000 bitcoins added to corporate portfolios.
Analysts say these large corporate purchases of Bitcoin will put pressure on supply and demand, as supply is limited and miners can only produce 450 Bitcoins per day.
Ki Young Ju, CEO and market analyst at CryptoQuant, said that Strategy is accumulating Bitcoin faster than miners are producing in total, resulting in an annual deflation rate of -2.3% for the asset.
Meanwhile, writer Adam Livingston recently said that Strategy is synthetically creating the Bitcoin halving by having high demand outstrip supply from miners.
Three Nigerian fraudsters are accused as the perpetrators of an elaborate scam, using AI-generated images of Brad Pitt to trick a French woman into sending €830,000. The scam is part of a larger wave of cybercrime involving AI and deepfake technology.
JoySanrio partnered with NTT Digital and other companies to launch a wellness-focused campaign using non-transferable NFTs to reward participants for completing wellness tasks. The initiative, part of NTT's Web3 Jam project, combines blockchain technology with real-world activities to enhance engagement and promote health.
AnaisFilmmakers Jonah Tulis and Blake J. Harris interviewed Ross Ulbricht for over 60 hours, exploring the story of the Silk Road founder who became a libertarian and crypto icon. After serving years of a life sentence, Ulbricht’s fate changed when former President Trump commuted his sentence on 21 January. With an upcoming documentary, is a fresh start on the horizon?
CatherineBitwise registered a trust for a potential Dogecoin ETF in Delaware. Dogecoin's price surged following the news.
AnaisRumours about the alleged kidnapping of Ledger co-founder Eric Larchevêque have sparked controversy, with reports dismissing them as a hoax due to a lack of evidence or police confirmation. The launch of the “Justice for Eric” meme coin added to the intrigue but quickly collapsed, highlighting the ongoing challenge of misinformation in the blockchain community.
KikyoFalse claims about a US Treasury-linked XRP wallet were spread by influencers, leading to the exposure of a crypto scam. The wallet, initially believed to be tied to major financial institutions, was traced to the Philippines and debunked as fraudulent.
WeatherlyTrump's Empire is a Telegram-based crypto game where players build a business and political empire while earning for a potential airdrop. The game uses Donald Trump's name and likeness but operates without his direct involvement. The key question: will the President endorse it or shut it down?
CatherineStandard Chartered encouraged investors to buy Bitcoin during price dips, projecting it could reach $200,000 by 2025. The bank attributed recent market corrections to regulatory uncertainty but expects institutional investments to drive future growth.
AnaisCrypto executives criticise the $TRUMP and $MELANIA tokens for damaging the industry's reputation and exploiting retail investors. US Representative Gerald Connolly has called for an investigation into Trump’s financial ties to crypto ventures like World Liberty Financial (WLF), warning that his involvement mixes politics with personal profit, exposing investors to high risks.
KikyoMetaMask and Ramp Network now allow users to convert Ethereum from Layer 2 networks directly to fiat, cutting mainnet fees and delays. This simplifies Web3 access and bridges it with traditional finance.
Catherine