The U.S. Dominates Global Bitcoin Reserves: Where Does Bitcoin Come From and How Astonishing is Its Quantity?

U.S. Bitcoin Reserves: The 'Mountain of Gold' From Seizures

The United States holds approximately 198,000 bitcoins, valued at $17.7 billion, making it the largest national holder in the world! These coins were all seized by the Treasury from criminal cases, and the 'Strategic Bitcoin Reserve' established by Trump on March 6 is based on this. The executive order states that all bitcoins seized due to crimes or fines will be deposited into the reserve and never sold.

The Story Behind the Massive Seizures

In November 2020, the Silk Road's first major bust: The U.S. seized 69,000 bitcoins from the mysterious hacker 'Individual X,' valued at $960 million at the time, now skyrocketing to $6.5 billion. By the end of 2024, the court approved the sale.

In January 2022, a major hacking case: Law enforcement recovered 94,000 bitcoins from Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein, accounting for 80% of the total stolen amount. The couple's money laundering attempt failed, and they were both imprisoned.

In March 2022, another win for the Silk Road: 51,000 bitcoins were found in the home of hacker James Zhong, hidden in a safe and a popcorn can, valued at $3.38 billion, setting a historical record.

To Sell or Not to Sell? A Major Policy Shift

In 2023, the U.S. sold 9,861 coins seized from Zhong for $216 million, but plans to liquidate the remaining bitcoins in batches were not executed. In January of this year, the Department of Justice was authorized to sell 198,000 Silk Road bitcoins, but the Biden administration delayed action until after Trump took office. Now, Trump's new policy is clear: reserve coins will only come in, not go out. The White House revealed that the Treasury and Commerce Departments are planning a 'zero-cost' accumulation plan, vowing to stack bitcoins into a 'national treasure mountain'!