Does the United States Have Bitcoin (BTC)?

Bittime - Does the United States have Bitcoin (BTC)? The answer is, yes, the superpower has BTC savings. So, how many Bitcoins does the US have? Check out the review in this article.

Be aware, khe existence of Bitcoin in the hands of the US government is not the result of an investment by an individual or company. Rather, these digital assets come from confiscation in various criminal cases.

How much Bitcoin does the United States actually have? How did the US government obtain it? Is this the beginning of the superpower's move to invest in digital assets? Read the full explanation below.

Does the United States Have Bitcoin?

Source: IMFIF

The United States is currently one of the largest holders of Bitcoin in the world, but not because they buy it from the market. Most of the Bitcoin held by the US government comes from seizures in criminal cases, such as hacking, money laundering and other illegal activities.

Over the years, the US government has confiscated large amounts of Bitcoin and stored them in special wallets. As regulations and law enforcement against crypto crimes develop, the amount of Bitcoin controlled by the government continues to increase.

Read also: List of the Best US Coins Currently, Number 1 XRP!

US Bitcoin Accumulation

Source: Cointelegraph

Bitcoin accumulation The United States initiated various confiscation operations since the early 2010s. Here are some major events that made the US the country with the largest Bitcoin holdings in the world:

69.370 BTC (November 2020) – Silk Road Seizure

On November 3, 2020, US authorities seized 69,370 BTC from a hacker who stole funds from Silk Road, an online black market that was shut down in 2013. 

At that time, the value of the confiscated Bitcoin reached $960 million (around Rp. 15.7 trillion). In 2024, the value will jump to $6.5 billion (around Rp. 106.6 trillion).

94,636 BTC (January 2022) – Bitfinex Hack

The US again confiscated 94,636 BTC from hackers Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, who stole 119,754 BTC from crypto exchange Bitfinex. Although some Bitcoins were laundered, authorities managed to recover about 80% of the stolen funds.

51,351 BTC (March 2022) – Second Silk Road Seizure

US authorities seized 51,351 BTC from James Zhong, another hacker who took funds from Silk Road. 

This confiscation was one of the largest in US financial history, with the value of Bitcoin reaching $3.38 billion (around Rp. 55.4 trillion) at that time.

Apart from that, the US government also sold some of the confiscated Bitcoins. For example, in March 2023, the US sold 9,861 BTC worth $215.7 million (around IDR 3.5 trillion).

Read also: United States Crypto Portfolio: Which Coins Are You Holding?

How Much Bitcoin Does the United States Own Now?

Currently, based on data from Arkham Intelligence, the US government has approx 198.109 BTC which is worth approx $17.7 billion (around IDR 290.3 trillion). This makes the US the largest Bitcoin holder among countries in the world.

In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve). 

Bitcoins confiscated from criminal cases will be included in this reserve, and it is possible that the US government will look for ways to increase its Bitcoin holdings without using public tax dollars.

Conclusion

Even though Bitcoin is a decentralized digital asset, the US government apparently owns a significant amount. The Bitcoin they own is not the result of investment, but rather from confiscation in various criminal cases. 

With a total of around 198,109 BTC worth more than IDR 290 trillion, the US is now one of the largest Bitcoin holders in the world.

Going forward, the US government's decisions regarding the storage, sale, or use of Bitcoin in its strategic reserves could be an important factor in global Bitcoin price movements. 

This is a review of whether the United States has Bitcoin, which Bittime summarized from various sources. Hopefully this article can be useful, OK!

FAQ

1. Is the US government buying Bitcoin?

No, the US government does not buy Bitcoin on the market. Most of the Bitcoins they own come from seizures in criminal cases.

2. What is the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve?

This is a Bitcoin strategic reserve established by the US government based on President Trump's executive order. This reserve is filled with Bitcoins confiscated from criminal cases.

3. Will the US sell the Bitcoins they own?

The US government has previously sold some of the confiscated Bitcoins, but there has been no final decision on whether all the Bitcoins will be sold or some will be kept in strategic reserves.

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Reference 

Cointelegraph, How much Bitcoin does the US hold, and where did it come from?, accessed March 12, 2025.

CCN, Top Government Bitcoin Holders: US, UAE, El Salvador, and More, accessed March 12, 2025.

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