The U.S. government controls nearly $23 billion in bitcoin, making it one of the world’s largest holders as massive seizures and a new Strategic Bitcoin Reserve reshape America’s crypto footprint.
US Government Keeps $23 Billion in Bitcoin
Blockchain intelligence platform Arkham shared on social media platform X on Feb. 16 that the U.S. government is still holding billions of dollars in bitcoin, highlighting on-chain data that values the stash at more than $22 billion.
Arkham wrote:
“The US government is holding $22.5 billion $BTC. The US government is bullish on bitcoin.”
The post referenced wallet data displayed on Arkham’s platform showing approximately 328,372 $BTC attributed to U.S. government-linked addresses, alongside smaller balances of ETH, USDT, WBTC, BNB, WBNB, and AUSDC. As of writing, the bitcoin holdings alone were valued at approximately $22.4 billion at prevailing market prices, with total crypto assets exceeding $22.8 billion.
The total of 328,372 $BTC is primarily composed of a few massive historic seizures and a collection of smaller law enforcement actions. A significant increase in the 2026 figures is largely attributed to the Prince Group seizure in late 2025, described as the largest in Department of Justice (DOJ) history.
The U.S. government’s bitcoin holdings include approximately 127,271 $BTC tied to the Prince Holding Group and its chairman, Chen Zhi, which remain seized and in litigation. About 94,643 $BTC were forfeited from the Bitfinex hack case involving Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan. Roughly 94,679 $BTC are linked to Silk Road recoveries, including assets connected to James Zhong and an individual known as Individual X. An additional 11,779 $BTC stems from miscellaneous Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cases.
In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed the landmark Executive Order on the Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. This directive formally designated bitcoin as a sovereign “digital gold” asset for the U.S. Treasury, ending the era of government auctions by mandating that all finally forfeited bitcoin be retained in a permanent national stockpile. The move serves as the cornerstone of Trump’s pledge to transform the United States into the “ crypto capital of the world.” The Secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce are authorized to explore budget-neutral strategies for further acquisition.
FAQ ⏰
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How much bitcoin is the U.S. government holding?
Arkham data shows approximately 328,372 $BTC valued at around $23 billion. -
Where did the U.S. government’s bitcoin holdings come from?
The majority stems from major seizures, including the Prince Group case, Bitfinex hack, and Silk Road recoveries. -
What is the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve?
It includes forfeited $BTC, such as assets from the Bitfinex hack placed there after a March 2025 executive order. -
Why do some reports show lower U.S. bitcoin totals?
Some estimates likely exclude seized assets that are not yet finally forfeited under the 2025 Digital Asset Stockpile guidelines.