US Government Holds $36B in Bitcoin, Ranks 7th Globally

Uncle Sam’s Growing Bitcoin Stash

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  US government holds $36 billion in Bitcoin reserves.
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  $14.1B of it comes from the Lubian/Chen Zhi seizure.
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  The US is now the 7th largest Bitcoin holder globally.

In a stunning revelation, the United States government now holds approximately $36 billion worth of Bitcoin, making it one of the world’s largest holders of the asset. This figure, confirmed through blockchain tracking and public records, places the U.S. government as the 7th largest BTC holder globally, ahead of many major institutions and even some crypto-native whales.

Much of this stockpile has been accumulated through seizures related to criminal investigations, dark web crackdowns, and fraud cases—most notably, the recent $14.1 billion seizure from Lubian/Chen Zhi, one of the largest ever conducted by U.S. authorities.

The Lubian/Chen Zhi Seizure: A Historic Haul

The seizure of $14.1B in Bitcoin from the Lubian mining group and its operator Chen Zhi stands out as the largest single BTC confiscation in U.S. history. This operation, tied to cybercrime and financial fraud investigations, underscores how law enforcement agencies have become increasingly sophisticated in tracking and recovering crypto assets.

Rather than immediately auctioning off the seized coins—as they have done in the past—the government appears to be holding onto them. This strategic shift suggests a longer-term view of Bitcoin as an asset class.

What It Means for Bitcoin and the Market

The sheer scale of U.S. government holdings has raised eyebrows in the crypto community. While some worry about the potential impact if the government decided to sell, others see it as a sign of institutional acceptance and a quiet acknowledgment of Bitcoin’s long-term value.

It also places the U.S. in a unique position of crypto influence, especially if it chooses to integrate these holdings into broader financial or economic strategy.

For now, the government sits atop a Bitcoin fortune that even most corporations and hedge funds would envy—proving that in the digital gold rush, even regulators can strike it rich.