U.S. Treasury to hold seized Bitcoin in new reserve

The U.S. Treasury will retain all seized Bitcoin in a new digital asset reserve, ending auctions and adopting a strict “no-buy, no-sell” policy. The government now holds about 328,000 BTC, worth over $30 billion.

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced a significant policy shift: instead of auctioning off confiscated cryptocurrency, it will now retain seized Bitcoin in a newly established national digital asset reserve. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed at the World Economic Forum in Davos that all Bitcoin obtained through criminal seizures and legal forfeitures—including assets from high-profile enforcement actions—will be held as part of a long-term reserve strategy. On-chain data indicates that U.S. government-controlled wallets currently hold around 328,000 BTC, valued at over $30 billion as of mid-January 2026. This positions the U.S. among the world’s largest known Bitcoin holders. The new framework introduces enhanced security protocols and enforces a strict “no-buy, no-sell” policy: the government will neither purchase Bitcoin from the market nor liquidate its holdings. Established under a March 2025 executive order, this initiative aims to promote digital asset innovation while maintaining federal oversight.