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Key Takeaways
- As of early 2025, blockchain analytics estimate the U.S. government holds around 198,000 BTC, primarily via law enforcement seizures.
- The U.S. government recently formalized a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through executive order, consolidating seized assets as a national reserve.
- Discrepancies exist: the U.S. Marshals Service reports holding close to 29,000 BTC, while analysts like Arkham track approximately 198,012 BTC across multiple agencies.
- The U.S. is the world’s largest governmental holder of Bitcoin, representing just under 1% of the total BTC supply.
- Claims that the U.S. will control 40% of all Bitcoin by 2025 are unfounded and vastly overstated.
Introduction
In 2025, Bitcoin is no longer just a speculative asset—it’s a strategic reserve held by nation-states. Among them, the United States leads, with estimates showing it holds nearly 200,000 BTC. This figure is rooted in Bitcoin obtained via criminal seizures, notably from high-profile cases like Silk Road and Bitfinex incidents. An executive order in March 2025 cemented this trend by creating a formal Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, empowering federal agencies to manage and preserve these digital assets.
The emergence of this reserve signals a significant turning point in how nations view cryptocurrencies, shifting from regulatory skepticism to embracing digital assets as legitimate stores of value.
Estimated U.S. Bitcoin Holdings Around 198,000 BTC
Various blockchain analysts and tracking platforms estimate that the total Bitcoin holdings of the U.S. government stand at approximately 198,000 BTC, representing the largest governmental hoard globally. These bitcoins are spread across multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Treasury, and originate from asset seizures tied to criminal and civil forfeitures.
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While the exact breakdown per agency remains opaque, this aggregated figure offers a reliable estimate of America’s Bitcoin footprint—worth tens of billions at prevailing market prices.
Formation of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
In March 2025, a landmark executive order formally established the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, consolidating the government’s Bitcoin holdings as a sovereign reserve asset. The order mandates that all Bitcoin gained through forfeiture be transferred to a centralized reserve, managed by the Treasury. It also prohibits the sale of these assets and empowers treasury officials to explore additional acquisitions—so long as they remain budget-neutral and avoid burdening taxpayers.
This policy elevates Bitcoin to a status akin to gold or petroleum in strategic financial planning and positions it as a cornerstone of national economic infrastructure.
Discrepancies Between Estimates and Official Disclosures
Despite these developments, reported holdings vary. A Freedom of Information response revealed that the U.S. Marshals Service — the agency responsible for auctions of seized Bitcoin — holds only 28,988 BTC. This figure birthed confusion, as it was erroneously conflated with total government holdings. In reality, the Marshals figure represents only a fraction of federal BTC stock.
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The balance lies with other agencies and has yet to be fully audited or publicly detailed. This discrepancy underscores the challenges of tracking multi-agency digital holdings, especially when custodial transfers and internal ledger fungibility muddy the picture.
How the U.S. Holds Compared to Other Nations
With nearly 200,000 BTC under its control, the U.S. holds a relatively small portion of the total 21 million supply—less than 1%. Compared to other countries, however, it remains the top governmental Bitcoin holder. Nations like China and the UK also hold significant reserves, but American holdings lead by a substantial margin.
This concentration reflects both the scale of asset forfeitures in the U.S. judicial system and the strategic vision behind codifying those assets into a formal reserve.
Debunking Myths About U.S. Dominance of Bitcoin Supply
Internet rumors speculate that the U.S. may control up to 40% of all Bitcoin, but these claims are unfounded. Even inclusive estimates that factor in corporate holdings and ETF reserves place U.S.-related Bitcoin at around 2–3 million BTC, representing closer to 10% of global supply—not 40%. Such exaggerations overlook the globally distributed nature of Bitcoin ownership, as well as the transparency challenges in attributing private holdings to specific nations.
Conclusion
As of 2025, the U.S. government holds an estimated 198,000 BTC, marking it as the largest sovereign holder of Bitcoin. The creation of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve institutionalizes these holdings and signifies a new era for digital asset strategy in national finance. Discrepancies in reported holdings stem from fragmented custody across agencies, but the overall trend is clear:
Bitcoin has transitioned from fringe tech to strategic national asset. While the U.S. controls only a sliver of the total Bitcoin supply, its holdings represent a significant move in legitimizing cryptocurrency within the framework of national economic policy.