Bitcoin Maximalists Reap Billions as BTC Surges Past $117K

Bitcoin’s price has soared past $117,000, pushing institutional holders into massive profit territory. Among them, software firm Strategy (MSTR) leads the charge, holding nearly 600,000 BTC — making it the third-largest bitcoin holder globally, after Satoshi Nakamoto and BlackRock. At the current price, Strategy’s unrealized profit sits at an estimated $28 billion, based on data from Strategy Tracker and BitcoinTreasuries.Net. The company has spent over $42 billion on its BTC treasury, which it keeps on its corporate balance sheet.

Unlike BlackRock, which holds bitcoin through its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) on behalf of investors, Strategy’s approach reflects a more permanent commitment. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor has consistently said he will never sell, recently tweeting, “The halls of eternity echo with the cries of those who sold their Bitcoin,” during BTC’s new all-time high.

Other companies are also benefiting from the rally. Japan’s Metaplanet, which began accumulating BTC in 2024, now holds 15,555 coins valued at approximately $1.83 billion — with $284 million in unrealized gains. El Salvador, the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, holds 6,234 BTC, now worth around $733 million, up $232 million from its purchase price.

Smaller firms are seeing gains too. Semler Scientific (SMLR) owns 4,636 BTC with $160 million in paper profits, while France’s Blockchain Group (ALTBG) holds 900 BTC with $30.5 million in gains.

Despite the potential for massive payouts, most of these bitcoin holders show no sign of selling. Many are self-proclaimed “bitcoin maxis” — or maximalists — who believe in holding BTC long-term, viewing it as a strategic asset rather than a trade.