Government Bitcoin holdings fall 12% in a year

Governments currently hold approximately 463,741 BTC, representing 2.3% of the total Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) supply, down from 529,591 BTC a year ago, according to a CoinGecko report.

The United States remains the largest government holder with about 198,012 BTC, mainly acquired through criminal seizures rather than purchases.

However, the US has been reducing its Bitcoin reserves since late 2024, partly influenced by efforts to manage assets seized in criminal cases.

China holds roughly 194,000 BTC seized in 2020, primarily from the PlusToken Ponzi scheme, but has not moved these assets since, despite its crypto ban.

The United Kingdom holds about 61,000 BTC acquired through seizures and has kept its reserves stable.

Germany and Ukraine have fully liquidated their Bitcoin holdings to cover budget deficits and wartime expenses, respectively.

Bhutan has increased its Bitcoin supply through mining but has sold nearly half of its holdings recently.

El Salvador stands out as the only government actively increasing its Bitcoin reserves, currently holding 6,135 BTC, despite IMF loan conditions restricting further purchases.

CoinGecko’s analysis highlights that government Bitcoin holdings are fragile and subject to political and financial pressures.

“On paper, governments hold a massive supply of Bitcoin, but this trend is surprisingly fragile,” the report notes, with only seven governments holding BTC last year and two having fully divested since.

At the time of reporting, the Bitcoin price was $94,926.27.