TechFlow news — On July 5, according to Decrypt, data from blockchain analytics firm Arkham shows that governments of multiple countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany hold substantial amounts of Bitcoin, with a combined value of approximately $17.8 billion at current market prices.
The U.S. government holds roughly $12 billion worth of Bitcoin, primarily acquired through high-profile seizures such as the 2013 Silk Road case. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice seized over $1 billion worth of Bitcoin linked to Silk Road, marking one of the largest cryptocurrency confiscations in history.
The UK government holds around $3.3 billion in Bitcoin. In 2021, the London Metropolitan Police's money laundering investigation unit seized £180 million (approximately $250 million at the time) in cryptocurrencies.
The German government holds about $2.2 billion in Bitcoin. In February 2024, German authorities announced plans to sell approximately €1 billion ($1.08 billion) worth of cryptocurrencies, mainly Bitcoin. This move represents one of the largest government-led crypto liquidations to date.
In contrast, the government of El Salvador has proactively purchased $314 million worth of Bitcoin as part of its national strategic reserves.
