US Holds $25 Billion in Seized Bitcoin, Sets Precedent for Other Nations

The United States government has accumulated an impressive stash of Bitcoin through law enforcement actions. As of now, it holds approximately 328,372 BTC, worth around $25 billion. This collection was not acquired through purchases but instead came from criminal and civil asset forfeitures, including seizures tied to the Silk Road marketplace and the Bitfinex hack.

This reserve has its roots in an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2025 (Executive Order 14233). This move consolidated all federally seized Bitcoin under a single framework and prohibited the sale of any coins in the reserve. The Treasury Department now manages this reserve alongside another entity called the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile.

Congress is considering legislation to codify the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve's existence into law, aiming to make it permanent and potentially expand its holdings dramatically. Two bills, the BITCOIN Act and the American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA), are working their way through Congress with the goal of allowing the reserve to acquire additional Bitcoin beyond what's seized through law enforcement.