Curiously, only 4% of the world's population owns Bitcoin, according to a study by River Research. River’s data reveals that the highest share of BTC holders is in the United States, where 14% of people own the flagship crypto.

Analysts say that the US has led in the adoption of cryptocurrency among both individuals and companies. In contrast, Africa has the least developed crypto market, with only 1.6% of the population holding Bitcoin.

Nevertheless, Bitcoin has a bright future. According to River researchers, Bitcoin has only tapped into 3% of its total potential market. This estimate is based on an analysis of its maximum available audience, including governments, corporations, and institutional investors.

The main barrier to mass adoption of the first cryptocurrency is limited financial and technical literacy. Many still associate digital gold with fraud. Another downside is BTC’s extreme volatility, which prevents people from seeing it as a reliable store of value, especially in developing countries. Despite Bitcoin’s progress, River experts believe it is still in the early stages of global expansion.

Back in October 2024, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink stated that Bitcoin is a strong alternative to gold and other exchange-traded commodities, predicting that global recognition is a question of time.