Summary
David Bailey claims that a potential sell-off by the U.S. could lead to Bitcoin (BTC) prices remaining sluggish in the past.
Summary David Bailey claims that a potential sell-off by the U.S. could lead to Bitcoin (BTC) prices remaining sluggish in the past. Circle Network reports: Key Points
The latest data disclosed by the U.S. Marshals Service indicates that the government holds only 28,988 Bitcoins, far below the externally predicted 189,000. In response, Bitcoin supporter Senator Cynthia Lummis publicly stated that if this news is true, it represents a 'strategic error' for the U.S. in the digital currency space.
Recently, news regarding the U.S. government's possible sale of most of its Bitcoin assets has drawn widespread attention. Changes in Bitcoin [BTC] holdings have become a hot topic.
According to a request submitted under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), independent crypto journalist and X platform user L0la L33tz revealed that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), responsible for managing seized crypto assets, currently holds only 28,988 BTC (approximately $3.4 billion).
'Now we may have a clearer understanding of the actual number of Bitcoins held by the U.S. government—approximately 85% less than expected. Although the disclosed data has sparked controversy, the market generally believes that the government may have taken action to sell some Bitcoin. Senator Lummis: Bitcoin sell-off may be a 'strategic misstep.'
It is noteworthy that the data analysis company Arkham estimated that as of July 2025, the U.S. government should hold approximately 198,000 BTC (valued at about $23 billion).
However, researcher Tay Vano pointed out that some BTC has not yet appeared in on-chain records. For example, 69,370 BTC seized from the Silk Road case has not yet been confirmed as state-owned assets, indicating that the actual numbers may vary.
In addition, industry expert David Bailey speculates that the U.S. may have directly sold part of its Bitcoin through swap transactions, thereby avoiding leaving traces on the blockchain. 'I believe these sales did not leave any records on the blockchain, that is for sure.' Meanwhile, some observers have suggested that Coinbase, as a major custodial institution, may have been involved in such operations. Additionally, a court ruling to return some Bitcoin to the Bitfinex exchange has also contributed to the decrease in the government's total holdings. Regarding the impact on the future Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) plan, Senator Lummis expressed her shock at the current situation and criticized it bluntly:
If true, this is undoubtedly a significant strategic misstep that would leave the U.S. lagging years behind in the global Bitcoin race. According to prediction site Polymarket, as of July 2025, the likelihood of the U.S. creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve has plummeted from nearly 80% at the beginning of the year to 30%.#BTC再创新高 $BTC
