How much money actually exists in the world?

One of the fundamental questions to understand the global economy is: how much money is there in the world? The answer is surprising when you break down the different forms that money takes today. While some believe that the lack of cash limits the growth of new assets like Bitcoin, the reality is that the total volume of available global money is much greater than you might imagine.

Cash: just the tip of the iceberg

When we talk about physical money (banknotes and coins circulating worldwide), the amount is approximately $9 trillion. This figure, though impressive, represents only a small fraction of the total money in circulation. The tangible cash we can hold in our hands is actually the smallest expression of global monetary wealth.

Money in deposits: where most of the wealth resides

The true scale of money in the world is revealed when analyzing bank deposits and funds in financial institutions. Simple deposits and money in bank accounts amount to about $100 trillion. If we add the larger funds and institutional deposits, the figure rises to nearly $150 trillion. It is in these numbers that we see the real scale of global monetary wealth.

Financial assets: valuations versus real money

There is a crucial difference between real money and asset valuations. All the financial assets in the world (including stocks, bonds, derivatives, and other investments) exceed 1 quintillion dollars, but these figures mainly represent market valuations, not physical or liquid money. The actual real money in the world (in the form of cash plus non-cash deposits) approaches $150 trillion.

Global monetary hegemony

When we look at the distribution of money worldwide, the concentration is notable. The United States leads with approximately $62 trillion, representing nearly half of the global money. China ranks second with about $16 trillion, while Japan completes the top three with roughly $6.5 trillion. This distribution reveals a lot about who dominates the global economy and the international financial system.

Implications for Bitcoin and the future of money

Understanding how much money exists in the world provides crucial perspective for evaluating the growth potential of new forms of money like Bitcoin. With $150 trillion in real money circulating globally, the argument that “there is no money for Bitcoin to keep growing” is unfounded. Digital cash and cryptocurrencies compete for their share within this vast ocean of monetary wealth, opening significant possibilities for expansion in the coming years.