Crypto
US Marshals Reveals Limited Bitcoin Holdings Amid Strategic Reserve Plan
Recent revelations have sparked significant discussion regarding the United States government’s Bitcoin holdings.
On July 15, 2025, independent journalist Lola Leetz obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, revealing that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) holds approximately 28,988.3563016 BTC, stored via Coinbase Prime. This figure is substantially lower than the previously estimated 207,189 BTC, leading to questions about the actual size and management of the U.S. government’s Bitcoin reserves.
Understanding the Discrepancy
The USMS’s disclosed holdings represent a fraction of the Bitcoin assets many believed the U.S. government possessed. This discrepancy arises from the distinction between “seized” and “forfeited” assets.
Seized assets are those taken during investigations but not yet legally transferred to government ownership; they may eventually be returned to their rightful owners. Forfeited assets, on the other hand, have been legally transferred to the government and can be utilized or sold as deemed appropriate. The USMS primarily manages forfeited assets, which explains why its reported holdings are lower than the total amount of Bitcoin the government has seized over the years.
The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Initiative
In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. This initiative aims to consolidate Bitcoin assets forfeited to the Department of the Treasury into a centralized reserve, treating Bitcoin as a strategic asset.
The order prohibits the sale of Bitcoin deposited into this reserve, emphasizing its role as a store of value. The executive order also mandates a comprehensive audit of the government’s Bitcoin holdings to ensure accurate tracking and management.
Current Estimates of U.S. Government Bitcoin Holdings
As of April 2025, the U.S. government was estimated to hold approximately 198,012 BTC, valued at around $18.3 billion. This figure includes assets seized by various federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). However, not all these assets have been forfeited; many remain in legal limbo, awaiting court decisions.
Implications and Future Outlook
The revelation of the USMS’s specific holdings underscores the complexity of the U.S. government’s Bitcoin asset management. It highlights the need for transparency and a unified approach to handling digital assets.
The establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is a step toward centralizing and effectively managing these assets. However, the exact total of the U.S. government’s Bitcoin holdings remains uncertain until the completion and public release of the mandated audit.
This situation also raises broader questions about the role of digital assets in national reserves and the strategies governments should adopt in managing them. As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for governments to develop clear policies and frameworks to navigate this new financial frontier.
U.S. Government’s Bitcoin Holdings and Strategic Reserve Developments:
- Trump signs executive order to establish government bitcoin reserve
- The five cryptocurrencies Trump wants the US to hold in reserve
The U.S.’s digital gold
also read:Bitcoin Surges Past $122000 Amid Regulatory and Institutional Support
