While purchasing 0.01 Bitcoin (BTC) might cost only $500 today, current trends in global wealth distribution and the inevitable realization of Bitcoin's limited supply could result in 0.01 BTC being worth $1 million in the future.
According to Credit Suisse's "Global Wealth Report 2020", there are 51.9 million individuals with a net worth surpassing $1 million. The index considers a person's net worth, along with their financial and real-estate assets, while deducting their debts and liabilities.
Despite representing just 1% of the global population (excluding children), millionaires own 43% of the world's wealth.
According to Credit Suisse's individual wealth breakdown, 175,700 people were worth more than $50 million. Of these, 55,800 were worth at least $100 million, and 4,410 had wealth over $500 million.
Bitcoin's finite supply will reach 98% in 10 years
As of March 1, Bitcoin's total supply consists of 18.64 million BTC, leaving 2.37 million coins to be mined. In 10 years, the supply will reach 20.6 million, or 98% of the 21 million total coin supply.
When removing the 1.9 million coins that haven't been touched for over a decade from Bitcoin's supply cap, there is a maximum limit of 19.2 million BTC available for the world's millionaires. This leaves 0.37 BTC per millionaire, including the yet-to-be-mined coins, assuming Bitcoin's supply will be evenly shared between said millionaires.
However, if every Bitcoin that has remained unmoved for five or more years is lost, a maximum of 14.57 million BTC will be available for accumulation. In this scenario, each of the world's millionaires could own just 0.28 BTC each, assuming supply is evenly distributed.
In the future, the wealthy will fight for 0.01 BTC
In addition to the certified millionaires, there are 590 million individuals whose net worth exceeds $100,000. These people shouldn't be disregarded as potential holders, even though their purchasing power is less.
Assuming the global wealth proportion shown in the chart above stays the same, millionaires represent 6.32 million coins out of Bitcoin's remaining supply, suggesting each individual would have the opportunity to purchase just 0.12 BTC each.
The remaining 590 million individuals currently worth $100,000 or higher could effectively hold another 5.9 million coins, resulting in a mere 0.01 BTC per adult.
To conclude, buying 0.01 BTC today, roughly a $500 investment at current prices, can assure one a top 13% holder position. When comparing the relative wealth concentration of the fiat and Bitcoin markets, being among Bitcoin's top 13% shares the same exclusivity as being a fiat millionaire.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.