Newly released Freedom of Information Act documents reveal the United States government holds 28,988 Bitcoin (approximately $3.47 billion), significantly lower than the frequently cited 200,000 BTC estimate. This disclosure ends years of market speculation about the scale of federal cryptocurrency reserves.
The confirmed holdings represent forfeited assets managed by the US Marshals Service and exclude seized coins undergoing active investigations, such as the 94,000 BTC recovered from the Bitfinex hack. Blockchain analysis firms including Arkham Intelligence corroborate absence of large-scale government liquidations, countering persistent market rumors about potential Bitcoin sell-offs.
FOIA disclosures clarify that the widely referenced 200,000 BTC figure included temporarily held seized assets rather than permanently controlled reserves. This transparency reduces uncertainty about government-related selling pressure on Bitcoin markets while affirming the actual treasury holdings at under 15% of earlier estimates. The documentation emphasizes regulatory distinction between criminal investigation seizures and final asset forfeitures.