Bitcoin Self-Custody Hits Record 45.6% Amid Exchange Holdings Decline

A significant shift is underway in how Bitcoin is held, with self-custody now accounting for 45.6% of the cryptocurrency's maximum supply of 21 million coins.

This means that approximately 9.57 million $BTC is held directly by individuals and entities, marking a notable preference for personal control over third-party custody.

The breakdown of Bitcoin holdings reveals that 7.95 million $BTC (37.9%) is considered actively held by owners, while 1.62 million $BTC (7.7%) is estimated to be permanently lost due to forgotten keys, misplaced wallets, or other reasons.