How much Bitcoin do Governments have?

Given the recent news about the German government selling Bitcoin, it’s important to examine how much Bitcoin various governments hold. Governments around the world collectively hold 560,752 Bitcoins, valued at over $32.83 billion as of July 2024, according to BitcoinTreasuries. While central banks have yet to widely adopt Bitcoin, several governments have substantial holdings.

Top Government Bitcoin Holders

• United States: 213,246 BTC ($12.37 billion)
• China: 190,000 BTC ($11.12 billion)
• United Kingdom: 61,000 BTC ($3.54 billion)
• Ukraine: 46,351 BTC ($2.71 billion)
• Germany: 43,359 BTC ($2.54 billion)
• El Salvador: 5,779 BTC ($388.87 million)

Bitcoin Seizures from Criminal Cases

The U.S., China, the UK, and Germany acquired their Bitcoin holdings through criminal seizures. The U.S. holds Bitcoin from the Silk Road marketplace, China from the PlusToken Ponzi scheme, the UK from a fraud case, and Germany from the operators of the movie2k website. Confiscated Bitcoins are often auctioned off. The U.S., for instance, has sold 195,000 Bitcoins for $366 million, which would be worth $12.6 billion today

Image source: bitcointreasuries