Standard Chartered: 61 Global Institutions Now Control 3% of Bitcoin Supply

Bitcoin's growing adoption by global institutions continues to reshape the digital asset landscape, according to a new report from Standard Chartered. The British multinational bank revealed that 61 publicly listed companies now collectively control approximately 3% of the total Bitcoin supply — an astonishing figure in a market historically dominated by retail investors and crypto-native entities.

In just the past two months alone, these institutions have acquired nearly 100,000 BTC, reinforcing a bullish narrative around corporate interest in digital assets. The data comes from Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Asset Research at Standard Chartered, who estimates that these firms now hold over 673,897 BTC in total.

Leading the charge is MicroStrategy (MSTR), the US-based software intelligence firm renowned for its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy. As of June 2025, MicroStrategy holds a staggering 582,000 BTC, far ahead of its closest institutional peers. Other notable companies include XXI with 31,500 BTC, Galaxy Digital Holdings at 12,830 BTC, Metaplanet with 7,800 BTC, and Next Technology at 5,833 BTC.

Together, these five firms account for more than 600,000 BTC, and the number continues to climb with 56 other companies entering the scene. The data paints a clear picture of the accelerating shift toward Bitcoin as a strategic treasury asset.

Kendrick noted, “What we’re witnessing is a structural shift in corporate finance. Bitcoin is no longer a fringe asset—it’s rapidly becoming a staple in institutional balance sheets.”

However, the report also carries a word of caution. While institutional adoption signals growing maturity for the crypto market, it also presents new risks. Kendrick warned that high levels of corporate accumulation could lead to centralised influence over a traditionally decentralised asset. Moreover, he pointed out that around 50% of these companies bought Bitcoin at an average price above US$90,000, exposing them to significant downside risk should volatility strike.

“Bitcoin’s price could fall below the acquisition cost for many of these firms, especially if macroeconomic headwinds persist or liquidity shrinks,” Kendrick said.

As institutional appetite for crypto intensifies, market analysts are closely watching how this will affect price dynamics, volatility, and decentralisation in the coming quarters. For now, the numbers are clear—institutions are here, and they’re buying big.

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