Key Points
- The U.S. government holds nearly 200,000 BTC, making it the largest state holder.
- A new policy currently prevents the sale of seized Bitcoin and designates it as a strategic reserve asset.
- Bitcoin price predictions for the year have run hot, but some experts predict a peak of $250,000.
The U.S. government’s relationship with Bitcoin has changed over the years. Once simply a byproduct of criminal seizures, this asset is now recognized as a strategic national reserve asset.
The Bitcoin U.S. government reserve now holds hundreds of thousands of coins across its wallets. This makes the United States one of the largest known holders of Bitcoin globally. This fact alone has massive implications for regulation, price trends, and the future of crypto.
A Closer Look at the Bitcoin U.S. Government Holdings
As of early 2025, the Bitcoin U.S. government holds 198,012 and 207,000 BTC. This stash is worth anywhere from $23 to $25 billion, depending on the current market price. For context, it also accounts for just under 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply.
These holdings were not purchased. They were seized through high-profile cases over the last decade, like the Silk Road and Bitfinex hacks.
Other countries like China and the UK also hold large amounts of Bitcoin. Other than them, no other known nation rivals the scale of the U.S. stockpile.
The U.S. started to amass Bitcoin in 2013 with about 144,000 BTC from the Silk Road. Further seizures came from James Zhong in 2021.
At that time, 50,676 Bitcoin U.S. government seized. With this, the last major seizure came from the Bitfinex hack in 2022 (turning up about 94,636 BTC).
Bitcoin U.S. Government Strategy Signals New Era for Crypto Policy
In March of this year, however, several things started to change. For example, under a new executive order by President Trump, the U.S. moved towards creating the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
This new reserve has been implemented to ensure that seized Bitcoin will no longer be sold. Instead, it will be held indefinitely as a store of national value, similar to gold.
This move is also a major change in how the U.S. government treats its Bitcoin. The focus is no longer on liquidating the asset to support the budget. It has now become a long-term play that recognizes Bitcoin’s value.
Despite previous allegations that the US has sold 85% of its assets, these assertions have been debunked. The Bitcoin U.S. government still has in its reserve is 200,000 BTC.
This means the country has removed a massive chunk of the cryptocurrency from circulation. This scarcity effect could greatly affect the Bitcoin price prediction for 2025, and make it slightly more bullish.
Some analysts even believe that this step boosts institutional confidence. It could also pave the way for more formal adoption of the asset.
Bitcoin Price Prediction
Predictions for Bitcoin’s price for the year are all over the map. For example, UK fintech firm Finder surveyed 24 crypto experts.
They discovered that their Bitcoin price prediction ranged from a low of $70,000 to a peak of $250,000. The average consensus, however, puts BTC at about $145,000 by year-end, with highs even reaching $162,000.
Several financial giants have made bold Bitcoin price predictions, ranging from $180,000 by VanEck to $250,000 by Tom Lee. Even more audaciously, Mike Novogratz sees $1 million, and Fidelity envisions $1 billion by 2038.
These predictions seem far-fetched. However, they show that the market is largely optimistic about the future of crypto. This looks more positive, especially with the recent pro-crypto laws being passed.
Can Sentiment Alone Drive Bitcoin Higher?
Crypto prices, unlike stocks, aren’t backed by earnings or cash flow. Their value relies heavily on market sentiment. This is why price projections, whether based on logic or “hopium,” are essential for shaping trader behavior.
Many analysts believe that bullish predictions act as self-fulfilling prophecies. The more people believe in Bitcoin’s future, the more likely they will buy in and increase prices.
However, skeptics like Warren Buffett remain unconvinced. He even stated once that he wouldn’t buy all the Bitcoin in the world for $25.
Overall, the future of Bitcoin for the rest of the year remains to be seen. The cryptocurrency currently attempts to break above the $120,000 resistance.
