Due to missed keys, the largest personal Ethereum wallet is essentially lost, and the network itself controls over half of all Ethereum through staking contracts.
As of 2025, ownership of Ethereum (ETH) is centralized within the network’s own mechanics rather than in the hands of a small number of early users, according to Crypto.news, which cites Arkham.
The ETH2 Beacon deposit contract, which locks validator stakes to safeguard the network, is now the largest Ethereum holder rather than an individual. More over half of all circulating currencies, or over 66.8 million ETH, valued at around $287 billion, are currently held by it.
Of the top 20 addresses, 55% belong to cryptocurrency exchanges. With an astounding $18 billion in ETH kept in custody and staking services, Coinbase is at the top of the field. With around $12 billion, Binance comes next, and Kraken has a further $1.7 billion.
With 3.2 million ETH (about $14.2 billion) under control of its spot Ethereum ETF, asset management behemoth BlackRock now leads the list of institutional holdings, marking a significant milestone for institutional adoption. BitMine is one of the corporate holders of ETH that is following Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin strategy; it has 1,713,899 ETH worth $7.5 billion.
Legal and illegal ownership
Rein Lõhmus, an Estonian banker who bought 250,000 ETH during the presale, is the greatest individual ETH holder. This serves as a sobering reminder of how harsh self-custody may be. With 240,000 ETH, Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, is now the biggest active individual holder.
Celebrities and James Fickel, an early ICO investor, are other noteworthy figures. Justin Bieber leads the celebrity cohort with 146.5 ETH, primarily from NFT sales. Streamer FaZe Banks and celebrities like Post Malone and Jimmy Fallon are next, with holdings that more closely represent the 2021 NFT frenzy than significant investment.
There is also a sordid tale of stolen money on the Ethereum rich list. After stealing 156,200 ETH in a 2016 attack, the Gatecoin hacker is still the biggest illegal ETH holder. With 95,700 ETH, the FTX hacker is another significant player.
With 60,000 ETH (about $266 million) in assets, the U.S. government is a major participant among governments due to seizures from criminals, including the Bitfinex hacker.
