U.S. Holds $9 Billion in Seized Bitcoin – Will They Sell or Hold? 10x Research Weighs In

There’s been a lot of buzz around the idea of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, especially after Donald Trump’s social media post fueled speculation. The U.S. government already holds around 200,000 BTC worth nearly $19 billion, mostly from seizures. If the U.S. starts accumulating more, it could aim to control 5% of Bitcoin’s total supply, pushing its value higher and positioning it as a hedge against financial uncertainty.

But is the government building a Bitcoin stash, or is this just wishful thinking? Let’s break it down.

What’s Happening?

Over the weekend, Trump’s post hinted at steps toward creating a Bitcoin reserve. This caused a surge in speculation, with Polymarket bettors increasing the odds from 42% to 63% that such a reserve could be created within his first 100 days in office. 

However, for this to happen, the U.S. government must actively hold Bitcoin—not just confiscated assets—by April 30, 2025. Simply announcing plans isn’t enough for it to count as an official reserve. But for now, it’s all speculation, and nothing has been formally approved.

Bitcoin Reserve or Just Holding Seized Assets?

According to 10X Research analyst, a true Bitcoin reserve would mean the government is buying Bitcoin just like it stockpiles gold. However, Trump’s executive order in January only talks about “evaluating” the idea of a digital asset stockpile. That’s a passive approach—meaning the government is more likely to hold onto the $19.1 billion in seized crypto assets (97.9% of which is Bitcoin) rather than buying more.

The analysts raise a key question on the US’s actual motive with seized $9Billion BTC: Is the U.S. committed to Bitcoin, or is it just keeping what it already has? Right now, there’s no clear push from Congress to actively purchase Bitcoin, so the idea of a strategic reserve remains just that—an idea.

One crypto analyst, ChestyPuller’s Ghost, stated that the U.S. government won’t spend money to buy Bitcoin for a strategic reserve but will instead use the BTC it has already seized. According to them, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) will likely include a mix of U.S.-based digital assets with real utility rather than just Bitcoin. They argue that the government won’t take on more debt for Bitcoin purchases, making it clear that the focus will be on assets it already controls.

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What’s Next for the Seized Bitcoin?

If the government keeps Bitcoin, it could signal a shift toward recognizing it as a legitimate asset, much like gold. But if it decides to sell, it could impact market prices and suggest that Bitcoin isn’t part of the country’s long-term financial strategy.

For now, the fate of the seized Bitcoin remains uncertain. Whether the U.S. embraces Bitcoin or just sees it as confiscated property to be sold off is still up for debate.