Bitcoin’s true circulating supply is far smaller than most people think. While millions of coins have been mined, a significant portion has remained untouched for more than a decade — locked in early wallets, lost private keys, or held by individuals who are no longer alive. The most famous example is Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated 1 million BTC, unmoved since 2010, representing one of the largest dormant fortunes in financial history. Other wallets, including early mining holdings and long-inactive addresses containing tens of thousands of BTC, have never recorded a single outgoing transaction. Some are monitored by authorities, some are believed to be permanently lost, and others simply belong to holders with extreme long-term conviction.
This inactive supply plays a critical role in Bitcoin’s market structure. When large amounts of BTC remain off the market, liquid supply tightens, reducing available sell pressure and strengthening scarcity dynamics. Estimates suggest that around 3.7 million BTC may already be lost or inaccessible, effectively removing billions of dollars from circulation. For active participants, this changes how accumulation phases should be viewed — price movements are not only driven by demand, but also by how little Bitcoin is actually available to buy.
As institutional interest grows and long-term holders continue to keep coins in cold storage, the imbalance between available supply and incoming demand becomes more pronounced. This environment historically favors patient positioning over aggressive short-term trading. Bitcoin rewards those who understand structure, not just momentum, and the shrinking liquid supply narrative remains one of the strongest foundations for its long-term value.
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