Here’s How Much Bitcoin and Ethereum the US Government Holds: Data

Over the past decade, countries around the world have moved to embrace cryptocurrencies. The United States government is in the lead, boasting about $15.27 billion in crypto holdings.

This significant stock includes 212.847k BTC and 45.654k ETH.

It leads the US with $15.27B holdings.

Silk Road is perhaps the most infamous case in 2013 when the US government seized 144,336 BTC. Silk Road was an online black market known for facilitating the sale of drugs and other illegal goods using Bitcoin.

Another popular darknet marketplace, AlphaBay, was targeted by US authorities in 2017. While the exact amount of cryptocurrencies seized is unknown, it has previously been reported that other tokens including Stosh Bitcoin, Ethereum and Monero.

Three years later, the U.S. Department of Justice seized an estimated $3.6 million worth of bitcoins as part of an investigation into suspected money laundering and wiretapping of cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex and its associated stablecoin issuer Tether.

According to data compiled by Arkham Intelligence, the UK government, which holds 61.245k BTC worth $4.34 billion, is close behind the US.

Meanwhile, the German government currently has 49.859k BTC, worth $3.53 billion.

In particular, the Salvadoran government emerged as an active participant, with 5.718k BTC holdings, worth an estimated $405 million, largely due to active purchases.

Crypto seizure

Most of these countries' crypto assets have come from confiscations for various reasons. This includes criminal investigations into the use of cryptocurrencies in illegal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist financing and cybercrime. Law enforcement agencies seize crypto assets as part of investigations to disrupt criminal activity and hold perpetrators accountable.

Governments can confiscate crypto-related income or transactions from individuals or businesses suspected of evading taxes. Seizures are used as a means of enforcing tax compliance and forcing taxpayers to meet their obligations.

Additionally, cryptocurrency exchanges and other platforms may be subject to regulations related to anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. Seizures can occur when entities fail to comply with these rules or engage in fraudulent activities.