Opinion
|3 min ReadCrypto millionaires hit record amid institutional adoption wave
Maya Chen
Senior Analyst
Published
Jan 16, 2026
Record wealth points to a new phase
You can feel the shift. The count of crypto millionaires jumped 40% year on year to 241,700 by mid-2025. That came with Bitcoin’s rally and a market cap pushing past $3.3 trillion. On Tuesday, Henley & Partners released its Crypto Wealth Report. It showed crypto centimillionaires rose 38% to 450. Billionaires climbed 29% to 36 by the end of June. Henley called 2025 a watershed year for institutional adoption.
Public companies and major finance players are pressing the bet in the United States. Policy support has given Wall Street the confidence to move. Money followed, and prices told the story.
Bitcoin millionaires lead the charge
Henley said the surge was driven by a dramatic rise in Bitcoin millionaires. That group jumped 70% to 145,100. Bitcoin outperformed the broader market from July 2024 to June 2025. The count of Bitcoin centimillionaires rose 63% to 254. Bitcoin billionaires reached 17, up 55%. Phillipp Baumann of Z22 Technologies told Henley that Bitcoin is becoming the base currency for wealth building for more investors.
Total crypto users grew too, but more slowly. Adoption rose 5% to 590 million. That gap tells you where the upside sits when the next wave of users arrives.
Flows, ETFs, and where the capital goes next
Flows confirm the story. So far in 2025, US spot Bitcoin ETF inflows increased from
60.6 billion, according to Farside. Spot Ether ETF inflows rose fourfold to 13.4 billion. Investment advisers and hedge fund managers scooped up the most spot ETH ETFs in the second quarter, lifting holdings to 1.35 billion and $688 million. Brokerages and private equity firms added to positions.This momentum fits Henley’s frame. Institutions are extending the cycle. Money from ETFs and corporate treasuries keeps demand alive after the usual four-year rhythm. Retirement plans could become a powerful source next.
Where high-net-worth movers are heading
Henley, which advises wealthy clients on citizenship and residency, ranked Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States as top destinations for crypto migration. Switzerland and the UAE rounded out the top five in its Crypto Adoption Index. Smaller countries are competing too. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Greece, Latvia, Panama, New Zealand, and Uruguay have strategies to attract digital asset investors.
The message is clear. Capital is moving. Policy is improving. Wealth is concentrating around Bitcoin and regulated access. If you hesitate, someone more decisive will take your seat.
Disclaimer: This document is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed in this document are not, and should not be taken as, investment advice or recommendations. Recipients should do their own due diligence, taking into account their specific financial circumstances, investment objectives and risk tolerance, which are not considered here, before investing. This document is not an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any of the assets mentioned.