Arkham confirms US gov $24b Bitcoin holdings, debunking 85% sell-off rumor

Arkham Intelligence has clarified that the U.S. government still holds approximately 198K BTC, disproving rumors that it had sold off 85% of its reserves.

Summary

• Arkham Intelligence reports the U.S. government currently holds about 198K BTC, valued at $23.5B, dispelling rumors of an 85% Bitcoin sell-off.
• The rumor originated from a FOIA request revealing only 29K BTC held by the U.S. Marshals Service.
• These holdings significantly surpass holdings of other governments, including the UK’s $7B and Bhutan’s $1.3B.
• The U.S. government’s Bitcoin stash accounts for roughly 0.065% of its national debt, which exceeds $37T.

Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence has reported that the U.S. government’s Bitcoin (BTC) holdings are currently around 198,000 BTC, valued at approximately $24 billion, effectively shutting down rumors that the government sold off 85% of its crypto assets. That rumor started circulating after a Freedom of Information Act request revealed that the U.S. Marshals Service held only about 29K BTC.

This led to widespread speculation that the government had liquidated the majority of its Bitcoin reserves. However, as it turns out, the FOIA numbers didn’t account for holdings by other agencies, including the FBI, DOJ, DEA, and US Attorney’s Offices, Arkham pointed out in response to Senator Cynthia Lummis’s post on X.

U.S. Bitcoin holdings in context

At current prices, the U.S. government’s Bitcoin stash of $24 billion places its holdings far above those of other governments, with the United Kingdom government holding about $7 billion in Bitcoin and Bhutan approximately $1.3 billion.

It also represents a small but symbolically significant 0.065% of the U.S. national debt, which is currently at over $37 trillion. While this amount is negligible in terms of closing the debt gap, it signals a form of institutional recognition and support for Bitcoin as a sovereign-held digital asset. However, the recent rumor—now debunked—has ignited concerns about what could happen if such a sale actually occurs in the future to address a portion of the debt or to fund other fiscal initiatives.