🌍 Bitcoin is no longer just for individuals or tech companies. According to recent estimates, governments worldwide collectively own over 527,000 BTC, representing 2.5% of the total Bitcoin supply, including coins seized, strategically acquired, or held as part of judicial or tax reserves.
With an average price of $65,000, this amounts to over $34 billion in BTC directly controlled by states, reflecting a profound shift in institutional perception of this digital asset.
🕵️ How did governments come to own BTC?
Most of these Bitcoins were not purchased on the market but acquired through:
🔒 Seizure operations for crypto-related crimes (frauds, hacks, drugs, etc.)
⚖️ Legal confiscations in high-profile judicial cases
🏦 Public auctions (like those conducted by the U.S. with BTC from the Silk Road case)
📥 Some countries, like El Salvador, have purchased BTC directly as a strategic reserve
🌐 Governments with the highest BTC holdings:
🇺🇸 United States: Over 215,000 BTC (most seized in judicial cases)
🇨🇳 China: About 190,000 BTC held after closing illegal mining operations
🇩🇪 Germany: Owns over 50,000 BTC after digital seizure operations
🇸🇻 El Salvador: More than 5,000 BTC purchased as part of its national economic strategy
Other European, Latin American, and Asian countries also hold smaller amounts
🔍 Why is this data important?
📈 Lower circulating supply: if governments retain BTC, the liquidity available in the market decreases, which could push prices upward.
💼 Bitcoin as a sovereign asset: states are starting to consider BTC as a strategic asset or fiscal tool.
🏛️ Growing interest from central banks: some analysts suggest that future central banks could include BTC in their reserves, as they do with gold or currencies.
🧠 Reflection: Are states accumulating without saying it?
While some governments openly declare their BTC (like El Salvador), others prefer to keep a low profile or auction them discreetly. Still, the figures show that states are already key players on the Bitcoin board.
📌 Conclusion
The myth that Bitcoin is beyond the reach of governments is fading. With over half a million BTC in state hands, governments are recognizing its value, even if they are not yet saying it openly. The question is: how many of them will start buying... instead of just confiscating?
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