CoinDesk Podcast Network BITCOIN SEASON 2: The US Government Is Hiding Its Bitcoin Stash
Jul 19, 2025
Investigative journalism uncovers that the U.S. Marshals hold just 29,000 Bitcoin, not the 200,000 often cited. The discussion dives into the complexity of tracking seized versus forfeited assets, revealing discrepancies in reporting. Politician involvement raises eyebrows as transparency issues around government Bitcoin practices come to light. The episode also explores the significant sales of Bitcoin by the government and the recovery efforts from the Bitfinex hack, showcasing the intertwining of cryptocurrency and government policies.
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US Marshals Hold 29K BTC
- The US Marshals Service holds about 29,000 Bitcoin, much less than the widely cited 200,000 Bitcoin figure for the entire US government.
- This discrepancy is explained by the difference between seized assets and forfeited assets controlled by the government.
Seized vs Forfeited Assets Explained
- Seized assets are held temporarily until legal claims are resolved; forfeited assets are fully controlled by the government.
- The large US government Bitcoin figures include many seized coins not legally owned by the government yet.
Custodian-held Bitcoin Complexity
- Many government-held Bitcoins are custodied by third parties like Coinbase, making on-chain tracking difficult.
- Significant Bitcoin holdings may be managed off-chain by custodians, not reflected in blockchain analysis.
