Government Bitcoin holdings have become a significant part of the crypto market. According to Bitwise, 13 governments collectively hold about $26.8 billion worth of Bitcoin, making them some of the largest institutional owners of the asset.
The United States remains the world’s largest government Bitcoin holder, with 328,372 BTC worth nearly $19.8 billion, according to Bitwise.
Its holdings are almost three times larger than the combined Bitcoin reserves of the other 12 governments tracked in the report.
Most of the U.S. Bitcoin was acquired through criminal seizures, including assets linked to the Silk Road marketplace and the Bitfinex hack, rather than through direct purchases.
After the United States, the largest government Bitcoin holders are:
Smaller Bitcoin holdings are reported for Venezuela, Finland, and Taiwan, while Germany and Bulgaria currently hold no Bitcoin, according to Bitwise.
Overall, governments control about 619,463 BTC, equal to roughly 3% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply.
Bitwise noted that governments acquired their Bitcoin through different approaches.
The United States primarily obtained its holdings through law enforcement seizures. These assets may eventually be sold through court-approved auctions and are generally treated as recovered property rather than strategic reserves.
By contrast, El Salvador has purchased Bitcoin as part of its national treasury strategy, making it one of the few governments to intentionally build a Bitcoin reserve.
Bitwise also noted that governments store Bitcoin in institutional custody solutions, while individual investors can choose between third-party custodians and self-custody wallets.
CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
Bitcoin (BTC) has made a strong recovery after the recent $5 billion short squeeze, but…
X may soon let users trade crypto directly from charts inside posts. Former X product…
Bitmine is making another aggressive bet on Ethereum, with fresh on-chain activity suggesting the company…
39 banking associations in the United States have jointly formed the “BankChain Alliance” to curb…
Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission opened a public comment period on Monday for draft regulations…
Bitcoin pierced the $80,000 mark overnight, reaching as high as $81,300 before pulling back to…
