In the United States, the accumulation of a strategic reserve of Bitcoin is primarily based on seizure and confiscation activities, usually following legal actions related to financial or cyber crimes.
According to data collected by federal agencies and major news outlets, from 2013 to today, an institutional purchase of Bitcoin by the federal government has never been approved. The competent authorities, including the Department of Justice, have reiterated that the seized cryptocurrencies are managed in compliance with current regulations and are excluded from specific purchase initiatives (Department of Justice – official statement).
An interesting aspect is that the choice not to proceed with direct purchases markedly differentiates the U.S. strategy from that of other possible institutional reserves in the global landscape.
It is also reported by industry analysts that the United States continues to distinguish itself from realities like El Salvador, where the reserve strategy is instead based on regular and declared purchases (BBC).
How Does the American Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Work?
The Bitcoin reserve held by the USA is essentially the result of legal seizures stemming from investigations into cyber and financial crime. Numerous documented cases show that the Bitcoin obtained remain under the control of the authorities until disposal through public auctions.
Such auctions are considered an international benchmark for the transparent management of confiscated digital assets. The Bitcoin obtained through these procedures remain under government control until a decision is made regarding their destination: a good portion of these funds is sometimes liquidated through public auctions, as evidenced by episodes in recent years (Reuters).
It should be noted that the management of this reserve does not correspond to an intentional accumulation policy, but rather reflects the episodic nature of judicial actions and the resulting confiscations.
The Regulatory Framework on the Management of Seized Bitcoin
As of today (June 2024), no executive order signed by the President of the United States—whether current or past—has been published regarding the establishment of a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” or an official reserve of digital assets as described here.
No measures concerning this matter were adopted on March 7, 2025, nor are there confirmations of a possible signature by Donald Trump after that date [data to be verified].
Seized cryptocurrencies are instead managed following the protocols already provided by U.S. legislation, particularly through the intervention of the Marshals Service (U.S. Department of Justice).
The American regulatory approach is frequently cited in academic and professional circles for its rigor and the traceability guaranteed by entities like the U.S. Marshals Service. In this sense, the process appears strictly regulated and devoid of room for discretionary policies.
Current Value of Bitcoin Reserve in the United States
According to the latest available information, the quantity of Bitcoin seized and held by the U.S. government exceeds 200,000 BTC.
Considering the average price in June 2024, around 65,000 USD per unit, this reserve can be estimated between 13 and 14 billion dollars. According to estimates provided by Bitcoin Magazine, the reserves have experienced significant fluctuations during 2023 and 2024 due to some particularly relevant public auctions.
Obviously, this figure tends to undergo periodic oscillations related to the market and any divestments of part of the assets over time (archive.ph/50QLC; Bitcoin Magazine). An element not to be overlooked is that the value of the reserves can change suddenly precisely due to the volatility of Bitcoin.
Main Sources of Government Bitcoin Seizures
The Bitcoin assets today attributable to U.S. authorities largely stem from investigative operations concluded in the realm of cybercrime or high-profile economic crimes.
In particular, in the reports published on the Department of Justice, it is highlighted how the most substantial seizures occurred through coordinated actions between the Department of Justice and federal investigative agencies.
About 200,000 BTC: global estimate of US government holdings in mid-2024 (Bitcoin Magazine).
94.643 BTC: seized from Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan as part of the investigations into the Bitfinex hack of 2016 (Reuters).
2.4 million dollars in BTC: seized by the FBI from affiliates of ransomware groups in various operations (generic source: US Department of Justice) [data to be verified against “Chaos” in April 2025].
Minor confiscation operations: totaling tens of millions of dollars, a figure that is continuously updated. It should be noted that there are no confirmed official sources on the “Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko” case nor on the seizures attributed to July 2025 [data to be verified].
From mid-2022 onwards, the largest share of Bitcoin aggregated in the hands of state authorities comes from seizures carried out against cybercriminals involved in particularly significant crimes (Department of Justice). An interesting aspect is that this trend has strengthened with the increase in large-scale ransomware attacks.
For further details on seizure methodologies and major operations, you can also consult the internal guide Sequestri di criptovalute: how it works.
USA Strategy for Bitcoin Reserve: No Purchases, Only Seizures
As of today, there is no trace of a federal policy oriented towards the direct purchase of Bitcoin with public resources.
Experts in blockchain forensics agree in stating that the only source of accumulation comes from judicial seizures, which remain at the disposal of the authorities until their transfer or sale through public procedures is arranged.
Regarding the statements of Scott Bessent, the current Secretary of the Treasury, there are no official declarations concerning the identification of Bitcoin as a “safe haven” nor announcements related to projects for expanding federal digital reserves (US Department of Treasury).
It should be emphasized that the seized Bitcoins remain strictly bound to judicial procedures and are managed without any strategic reserve purpose similar to gold.
To delve deeper into the topic of regolamentazione of cryptocurrencies in the USA, you can consult the updated guide to American legislative activity.
The Impact of the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve on the Markets
The accumulation of digital assets through judicial means—and not through intentional purchases—helps to reduce the risk that government strategies could directly influence the price of Bitcoin in the markets. Industry operators, however, report higher trading volumes during government auctions, sometimes with immediate effects on the Bitcoin quotation.
Nevertheless, the public auctions held by federal authorities have shown some short-term effects, with consequent price movements coinciding with the disposal of large quantities (CNBC). The impact remains limited compared to what would occur in the case of a true coordinated bull or bear strategy.
Advantages and Limits of the Bitcoin Reserve Based Solely on Seizures
Advantages: transparency in the management of confiscated assets, absence of direct effects on the State budget, limited power of influence on the markets.
Limits: the reserve is completely subordinated to the outcome of judicial activities; there is a complete lack of flexibility in the realm of public investment management.
This model could encourage federal agencies to increase their commitment to combating cybercrime, given the link between success in investigations and the growth of seized resources (Department of Justice – CCIPS report).
As directly observed by industry operators, the management of confiscated cryptocurrencies is subject to constant audit and traceability processes that offer an additional level of trust and reliability to citizens interested in digital assets.
Future Prospects for Bitcoin Reserve in the United States
The orientation of US institutions remains focused on a cautious approach and does not currently foresee systematic purchases of Bitcoin aimed at establishing a national reserve.
Currently, advisory bodies like the US Congressional Budget Office have not developed concrete legislative proposals. Any policy revisions are a matter of academic discussion and specialized analysis, but there are no advanced proposals at significant legislative or financial bodies.
In this context, any evolution of the regulations will need to be closely monitored by financial market regulatory authorities.
For a more comprehensive overview of digital assets as a store of value, please refer to the in-depth internal analysis.
The Evolution of the Perception of Bitcoin as an Institutional Store of Value
Despite having a significant amount of seized Bitcoin, the U.S. government has not yet established any formally recognized digital reserve. However, the vast amount of assets currently managed has contributed to fueling an international debate on the possible role of cryptocurrencies in safeguarding value at the public level (IMF – Study on cryptocurrencies as a reserve).
According to researchers from the World Bank and the IMF, the process of institutional adoption could accelerate if coordinated regulatory changes occur among various advanced economies.
Conclusions on the Governmental Vision for US Digital Reserves
The accumulation of Bitcoin by the U.S. federal authorities is the result of seizures and legal actions, not of political choices aimed at creating a national digital reserve.
Industry observers point out that, at present, there are no officially declared strategic plans either at the Department of the Treasury or at other government agencies.
The debate on the Bitcoin reserve is continuously evolving and could progressively influence the discussion on digital assets and public financial regulation, even though—at least for now—there is no official strategy beyond the simple management of confiscated resources.
