Governments With Bitcoin: USA The Largest Crypto Stash

The massive Bitcoin reserves held by governments such as the US and China can have a huge impact on the cryptocurrency market.

The United States government has the largest cryptocurrency stash globally. According to data from Arkham, the US government holds over 213,000 BTC, along with 750 wrapped BTC, 50,000 ETH, 40,000 BNB, 10 million USDC, and over 121 million USDT. The total value of these assets is estimated at around $4 billion.

However, CoinBureau notes that the US government has not purchased any of this Bitcoin. Instead, all of its crypto holdings have come from seizures related to illicit activities.

One notable case involves Individual X, an anonymous hacker who stole over 69,000 BTC from the Silk Road darknet marketplace between 2012 and 2013. Despite threats from Silk Road’s founder, Ross Ulbricht, Individual X did not spend the stolen Bitcoin but rather handed it over to authorities after being apprehended in February 2015.

Another case involves James Jong, who exploited the Silk Road by spamming the withdrawal button, managing to steal more than 51,000 BTC. Jong was caught in November 2021 after a series of mistakes, including a 911 call reporting crypto theft from his residence. After cooperating with investigators, Jong served a one-year prison sentence.

According to CoinBureau, the US still holds 23,329 BTC, valued at approximately $14 billion. They note that while the US could use Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation, it is more likely to wait for clearer regulations on cryptocurrency before making any moves. Also, the upcoming presidential election could influence the government’s decisions, with crypto becoming a focal point in the campaign.

China is also one of the governments with a Bitcoin stash. At one point, the Chinese government possessed over 190,000 BTC, seized from the Plus Token scam, which promised unusually high returns and ultimately defrauded numerous investors.

In 2020, Chinese authorities arrested over 100 people involved in Plus Token, including 82 core team members and 27 masterminds. CoinBureau states that the seized assets included not only Bitcoin but also more than 830,000 ETH and over 487 million XRP.

It is unclear if China still holds this crypto, but many believe that much of it has been exchanged. The court handling the Plus Token case stated, “The seized digital currencies will be processed under laws and the proceeds and gains will be forfeited to the National treasury.”

Additionally, the Chinese government has also been active in seizing crypto-mining equipment. In September 2021, authorities confiscated over 3,500 Bitcoin mining rigs. The crackdown aimed to curb domestic cryptocurrency mining and trading, aligning with the country’s strategy to maintain control and promote the digital Yuan CBDC.

Despite this, there is speculation about state-owned mining operations, with a notable case involving Bit Origin, a Bitcoin mining operation linked to the Chinese government. CoinBureau notes that while China’s crypto policies are restrictive, miners might quickly sell off any mined Bitcoin, and if the government waits until favorable market conditions before selling, it could damage their credibility as regards crypto handling.

The United Kingdom holds over 61,000 BTC, which was seized by London’s Metropolitan Police from Gian Wen. Wen was convicted for laundering funds related to an investment fraud operation in China. The stolen Bitcoin belonged to Jumin Chan, who had stolen from thousands in China and then converted the proceeds to BTC. Wen was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison in May 2024.

The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK has initiated a civil recovery investigation into Wen’s Bitcoin, which might lead to its forfeiture. In March 2024, the National Crime Agency (NCA) gained new powers to “seize, freeze, and destroy cryptocurrency used by criminals”. This could complicate the return of stolen assets to victims.

Similarly, the UK government made significant crypto seizures in June 2021. The Metropolitan Police confiscated around $4 million worth of crypto in a money laundering investigation, a record that was surpassed the following month with $180 million worth of crypto seized.

Ukraine’s cryptocurrency holdings come from different sources. Amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine has received crypto donations for military and humanitarian purposes. According to a July 2023 CoinDesk article, Ukraine raised over $225 million in crypto, including $41 million worth of BTC.

In April 2021, the Ukrainian government revealed that public officials owned over 46,000 BTC. Of the 700,000 officials who declared their