TLDR
- • US entities now control 65% more Bitcoin reserves than international holders
- • Genius Group bought $10M worth of Bitcoin, aiming to convert 90% of funds to BTC
- • Over 1 million bitcoins are held in corporate treasuries
- • Standard Chartered launched crypto custody services in Luxembourg for EU clients
- • Bitcoin reached $108,268 in December 2024, with ETFs attracting $106.82B in inflows
U.S.-based entities have established a commanding lead in Bitcoin holdings, now controlling 65% more reserves than international holders as of January 2025. This represents a substantial shift from 2023, when offshore entities maintained dominant positions during Bitcoin’s sub-$30,000 trading period.
The ratio of U.S. to non-U.S. Bitcoin reserves showed steady growth from September 2024 to January 2025. Starting at 1.24 in September, the ratio increased to 1.66 by mid-December before stabilizing at 1.65 in early January 2025.
Corporate treasuries now hold over one million bitcoins, with both public and private companies expanding their cryptocurrency reserves. This trend gained momentum following Bitcoin’s price achievement of $108,268 on December 17, 2024.
Among recent corporate adopters, Singapore-based Genius Group Ltd made headlines with its $10 million Bitcoin purchase on December 30, 2024. This education technology company, serving 5.4 million students globally, increased its total holdings to 319.4 BTC, representing a 50% increase in its Bitcoin reserves.
Genius Group’s Bitcoin-first strategy, announced on November 12, 2024, aims to convert 90% of company funds to Bitcoin. Following this strategic move, the company’s stock price rose by 11%, with Bitcoin yields in Q4 2024 reaching 1,649%.
The launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 played a crucial role in corporate adoption, attracting $106.82 billion in inflows according to SoSoValue data. This institutional interest helped maintain Bitcoin’s strong market position throughout 2024.
Traditional financial institutions have also begun establishing cryptocurrency services. Standard Chartered Bank recently launched crypto custody services in Luxembourg, targeting institutional clients across the European Union. This move aligns with the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) Regulation.
The bank’s choice of Luxembourg stems from the region’s regulatory stability and moderate oversight environment. Laurent Marochini, formerly Head of Innovation at Société Générale, was appointed CEO of Standard Chartered’s Luxembourg office to oversee the expansion into European digital assets.
The custody services focus on institutional clients, offering secure storage of digital assets under strict regulatory compliance. This development reflects growing demand for regulated digital asset management services in the European market.
Margaret Harwood-Jones, Global Head of Financing & Securities Services at Standard Chartered, emphasized the importance of regulated digital asset custody services in meeting evolving financial market needs.
Political developments have also influenced corporate Bitcoin adoption. Following his re-election in November 2024, Donald Trump proposed establishing a national Bitcoin reserve as part of new pro-crypto policies.
The corporate rush into Bitcoin continues as companies seek to diversify their treasury holdings. This trend spans various sectors, from technology firms to financial institutions, indicating broader acceptance of cryptocurrency as a treasury asset.
U.S. companies lead this adoption wave, with the gap between domestic and international holdings widening throughout 2024. This shift marks a notable change from previous years when international entities held larger portions of Bitcoin reserves.
The movement of traditional banks into crypto services, exemplified by Standard Chartered’s Luxembourg launch, shows increasing institutional comfort with digital assets. These services cater to growing demand from corporate clients seeking regulated exposure to cryptocurrency.
Recent data from CryptoQuant confirms the continued dominance of U.S.-based Bitcoin reserves, maintaining the 65% lead over international holdings as of January 2025.
