CoinDesk reports that Crypto4me’s study Five Years of Bitcoin in the Mainstream says funds, companies and governments now hold nearly one fifth of all Bitcoin. The study uses data from 2 October 2026 and shows how ownership has shifted after five years of bitcoin-linked funds and trading access.
Miloš Mázor, CEO of Madison Six, said, “If we look only at the price five years ago and the price today, we miss much of what has changed. Bitcoin has become accessible through the same investment accounts people use for shares and funds. That has opened the door to pension funds, university endowments and other institutional investors, even though it has not removed the risk”
Five Years of Bitcoin in the Mainstream
The study traces the shift from the launch of The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF on 19 October 2021 to the spot bitcoin ETP approval in January 2024. The first fund held futures contracts rather than Bitcoin itself, while the later products buy and hold Bitcoin directly.
Crypto4me says ETFs and similar funds worldwide hold about 1.49 million bitcoins, and listed and private companies hold another 1.65 million bitcoins. Together, those categories account for roughly 15% of all coins in existence. Government holdings add approximately 3%, bringing the combined share to close to one fifth. Most government holdings came from seizures rather than investment purchases.
Bitcoin price and volatility
The study says Bitcoin rose from about $64,000 in October 2021 to approximately $86,000 on 2 October 2026, a gain of around 34%. Annual volatility fell to about 42% in 2025, roughly half its 2021 level, but the market still dropped 53% between October 2025 and June 2026.
Mázor also said, “A calmer market is not the same as a safe investment. Greater institutional participation changes how bitcoin is held and traded, but investors still need to be prepared for substantial losses”
Crypto4me OTC desk
Crypto4me launched its OTC desk for larger cryptocurrency transactions because of growing institutional interest. For readers using traditional accounts, the practical change is not just easier access to Bitcoin but a market in which large holders now shape ownership, trading and liquidity more than they did five years ago.
