How Many Bitcoins Do the Winklevoss Twins Own and Their Story

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Twin Brothers Sitting on Couch while Playing Electric Guitars
Credit: pexels.com, Twin Brothers Sitting on Couch while Playing Electric Guitars

The Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler, have been at the forefront of cryptocurrency investing, particularly with Bitcoin. They're known for their high-profile lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg, but their involvement in Bitcoin is what's truly fascinating.

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are often referred to as the "Bitcoin billionaires." The twins have been instrumental in popularizing Bitcoin and have been major players in the cryptocurrency space since its early days.

The twins first learned about Bitcoin in 2011, and they were immediately drawn to its potential. They invested a significant amount of money in the cryptocurrency, which would eventually pay off in a big way.

Their early investment in Bitcoin was largely driven by their desire to create a new financial system that's more equitable and accessible to everyone.

Their Bitcoin Investment

The Winklevoss twins' investment in Bitcoin is a fascinating story. They used $11 million from their $65 million payout from their Facebook lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg to invest in Bitcoin in 2013.

Credit: youtube.com, The Controversial Twins Who Own All The Bitcoin

At the time, the price of Bitcoin was around $120, and the twins claimed to own almost 1% of all Bitcoin in circulation with that money. They acquired 1% of all Bitcoin in the world with that investment.

The twins have been vocal about their support for Bitcoin, claiming it is better than gold and "matches or beats" the precious metal across its nine foundational traits. They see Bitcoin as potentially the greatest social network because it is designed to transfer value over the Internet.

The price of a single Bitcoin is now above $11,000, and the cryptocurrency's market capitalization is $187.6 billion. This makes the total value of Bitcoins held by the twins worth more than one billion dollars.

Explore further: 1 Million Bitcoins

Becoming Bitcoin Billionaires

The Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler, first made headlines in 2008 for their lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg, but it wasn't until 2013 that they started investing in Bitcoin.

They used $11 million from their $65 million payout from the lawsuit to invest in Bitcoin, which was priced around $120 at the time.

Explore further: Million Bitcoins

Credit: youtube.com, How The Winklevoss Twins Became Bitcoin Billionaires | Ben Mezrich | TEDxBeaconStreet

The twins claimed to own almost 1% of all Bitcoin in circulation, which is a significant amount considering the cryptocurrency's market capitalization is now $187.6 billion.

Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by the twins, is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services and has a daily trading volume of over $244 million.

The Winklevoss twins have been quoted as saying they see Bitcoin as potentially the greatest social network because it is designed to transfer value over the Internet.

They have not sold a single Bitcoin since their 2013 purchase, which has made them the first publicly-known billionaires of Bitcoin.

The twins' investment in Bitcoin has paid off, with the price of a single Bitcoin now above $11,000.

They estimate that the twins own around 120,000 Bitcoins, which is about 1% of the total coin supply.

The twins believe that Bitcoin is better than gold and "matches or beats" the precious metal across its nine foundational traits, such as scarcity and portability.

They started Gemini, the world's first regulated and licensed digital currency exchange, to build an ecosystem for Bitcoins that will attract institutional investors and day traders.

Credit: youtube.com, The Winklevoss Twins Just Became Bitcoin Billionaires | CNBC

The application to start a Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust, an ETF, on the Bats exchange was denied by the Securities Exchange Commission in March 2017, but is now being reviewed.

The twins' success with Bitcoin has made them one of the most prominent figures in the crypto sphere, and their investment in the cryptocurrency has made them the first Bitcoin billionaires.

Tasha Kautzer

Senior Writer

Tasha Kautzer is a versatile and accomplished writer with a diverse portfolio of articles. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she has successfully covered a wide range of topics, from the lives of notable individuals to the achievements of esteemed institutions. Her work spans the globe, delving into the realms of Norwegian billionaires, the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, and the experiences of Norwegian emigrants to the United States.

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