TL;DR
- U.S. confirmed holding 198K BTC ($24B): Arkham debunked “85% sell-off” claims as flawed tracking missed FBI/DOJ/DEA wallets.
- Market faces renewed sell-pressure anxiety: Relief over no liquidation is offset by fear of future government BTC dumps.
- Trump crypto task force report drops July 30: Expected to address BTC reserves, stablecoins, and reject retail CBDCs.
A bombshell report claiming the U.S. government liquidated 85% of its Bitcoin holdings has been categorically debunked by blockchain intelligence firm Arkham. Contrary to panic-inducing headlines, the federal treasury remains one of the world’s largest Bitcoin whales, sitting on 198,000 BTC worth $24 billion, a revelation that simultaneously clarifies market uncertainty and reignites fears of future sell pressure.
THE US GOVERNMENT HOLDS $24B BTC
THE UK GOVERNMENT HOLDS $7B BTC
BHUTAN HOLDS $1.3B BTC
THE GOVERNMENTS ARE HERE pic.twitter.com/RELpDvJZTx
— Arkham (@arkham) July 23, 2025
Arkham Exposes Reporting Flaw
Just days after sensational reports claimed the U.S. sold 171,000 BTC, Arkham identified a critical oversight; analysts failed to account for Bitcoin distributed across multiple government agencies. While the U.S. Marshals Service manages a portion, significant stashes reside with the FBI, DOJ, DEA, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices from seizures like Silk Road and Bitfinex hacks. “The US Government currently holds at least 198,000 BTC,” Arkham confirmed, noting the erroneous report stemmed from tracking only the USMS wallet.
The $24 Billion Elephant in the Room
With its holdings now verified at $24 billion, the U.S. government dwarfs other national BTC reserves:
- United Kingdom: $7 billion
- Bhutan: $1.3 billion
- The scale underscores immense latent market power. Senator Cynthia Lummis previously slammed the alleged sell-off as a “strategic blunder,” but Arkham’s data confirms no such mass liquidation occurred. Instead, the full war chest remains intact, for now.
Market Relief and Renewed Anxiety
Initial reports of a sell-off paradoxically highlighted Bitcoin’s resilience, as prices held firm despite the supposed $20 billion overhang. Now, with confirmation that the government didn’t sell, relief is tempered by resurfaced fears: any future liquidation could trigger seismic market tremors. “The potential market impact if the US government decides to sell its Bitcoin remains a very real concern,” Arkham noted, acknowledging the double-edged sword of its findings.
Trump Task Force Report Looms
The timing amplifies significance: this revelation lands just days before the July 30 release of President Trump’s 180-day crypto task force report. Key expectations include:
- Strategic BTC Reserve Framework: Feasibility of expanding holdings without taxpayer funds
- Stablecoin Regulations: Clear rules for USD-pegged assets
- Token Classification Clarity: SEC/CFTC jurisdictional boundaries
- CBDC Resistance: Prioritizing privacy by avoiding retail digital dollar proposals
- The report is expected to leverage the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts, potentially transforming how the government manages and grows its colossal Bitcoin position.
