Gold has been humanity’s favorite store of value for thousands of years. Bitcoin launched in January 2009. In the US, the newcomer now has more owners.
A research report released by River in July 2026 estimates that approximately 49.6 million American adults own Bitcoin. That works out to 18.6% of the adult population, compared with 28.8 million adults, or 10.8%, who report owning gold.
According to the report, this is the first time on record that Bitcoin ownership has overtaken gold.
The numbers behind the flip
The gap is wide. By River’s count, US Bitcoin owners outnumber gold owners by roughly 20.8 million people.
River’s data shows Bitcoin ownership rising from 14.3% to 18.6% of US adults in approximately six months.
The report credits much of that growth to easier access. Exchange-traded funds, mobile apps and a range of exchanges have made buying Bitcoin more accessible. River also links the trend to a broader cultural shift in how Americans view digital assets.
River isn’t the only outfit reporting this pattern. Earlier surveys from the Nakamoto Project, which collected data from late 2024 to early 2025 and published findings by mid-2025, landed in similar territory. Those surveys counted roughly 48 to 50 million Bitcoin owners, compared with about 37 million gold owners.
The two studies disagree on the gold figure. Their Bitcoin estimates sit in the same neighborhood, though, and both put Bitcoin ahead.
Beyond individual wallets
Individual ownership is only part of the US picture. American exposure to Bitcoin also runs through corporate treasuries and government vaults.
Americans are estimated to hold about 42% of the total global Bitcoin supply.
US public companies collectively hold approximately 1.24 million BTC. According to the research, that represents about 93% of corporate Bitcoin holdings worldwide.
The US government holds around 328,000 BTC, valued at over $26 billion. Most of it came from asset seizures rather than deliberate purchases.
A wrinkle in the data
Not every survey tells the same story. Gallup reported that 9% of US adults owned crypto as of June 2026. That figure was down from 14% the previous year.
That sits awkwardly next to River’s 18.6% Bitcoin figure. Bitcoin is a subset of crypto, so on paper, Bitcoin ownership shouldn’t exceed overall crypto ownership.
The likeliest explanation is that the surveys ask different questions of different samples. Some respondents may also not think of an ETF holding as “owning crypto.” The research frames the Gallup data as a sign that Bitcoin is pulling ahead of other digital currencies, even as broader crypto ownership slips.
What this means
River’s numbers suggest that among individual Americans, the default “alternative asset” may be shifting. The research suggests that could encourage institutions to allocate more toward Bitcoin, as it gains acceptance as a legitimate asset class.
The concentration figures cut both ways. The US holds about 42% of global Bitcoin supply, and US public companies account for about 93% of corporate holdings. That gives American policy decisions outsized influence over the asset, meaning regulatory moves on ETFs, corporate accounting or the handling of seized coins could ripple through the market.
What to watch next: whether the growth rate River measured holds up, and whether other pollsters converge on similar figures. The six-month climb from 14.3% to 18.6% is striking. And if Gallup’s lower crypto numbers keep diverging from Bitcoin-specific surveys, expect a debate over methodology to follow.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.