Though it does not reveal identities, Bitcoin’s blockchain offers total transparency in every transaction. As two powerful players in the world’s cryptocurrency scene, the US and China have had different policies that have affected price movement for Bitcoin and still affect its path.
Focusing mainly on the amount of Bitcoin access held by China and the United States, this guide analyzes how federal laws on Bitcoin and managing digital assets shape the world’s financial strategy.
The Importance of National BTC Holdings
Unlike conventional assets, Bitcoin is not generated or kept by a central bank. A nation’s Bitcoin holdings could be directly government-held, owned by state-run organizations, or indirectly held via companies based in that nation.
The holdings can be obtained through law enforcement seizures via exchange hacks, criminal investigations, or seizures from scams, including PlusToken or Silk Road. There’s also indirect control of holdings via regulated financial products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or other platforms based in that nation.
Also, mining and infrastructure oversight through energy control, domestic mining activity, and crypto network regulation can allow the government to earn Bitcoin. It is important to note that in this context, “holding” indicates the influence of how this cryptocurrency can be moved, accessed, or stored and not just ownership.
Implications of Government-Owned BTC
Holding significant Bitcoin reserves by the US gives it financial leverage and optionality. Government auctions can influence supply dynamics and the Bitcoin price.
A well-defined legal framework enables controlled institutional BTC holdings free from policy uncertainty. China’s crypto mining dominance (before its ban on all crypto activities) reflects the nation’s ongoing impact on Bitcoin’s broader adoption, even without any directly verified reserves.
Also read:Bitcoin Holdings of the United States
The United States, with about 213,000 BTC under federal control, mostly from criminal seizures, is the largest verified holder of the leading cryptocurrency among national governments as of 2025. The sources of their holdings include:
- Silk Road: 69,369 BTC from Silk Road confiscated from the original Silk Road case in 2012.
- James Zhong: 50,676 BTC from James Zhong, who in 2012 took use of a Silk Road flaw.
- Bitfinex Hack: 94,643 BTC was retrieved from the 2016 Bitfinex breach; the court ruled that the 94,643 coins taken first from the Bitfinex hack should be returned to the crypto exchange.
Though many may have been sold, a large amount stays under US Marshals Service control and other federal agencies. These holdings are legally managed on-chain.
China’s Uncertain Holdings and Bitcoin Seizure
Chinese officials acknowledged confiscating 194,775 BTC in 2020 as part of the PlusToken Ponzi scam. A court decision from the Yancheng Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu Province revealed the size of the confiscation.
Although the court decision verified the 2020 seizure, it provided no more openness on the assets. According to CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, blockchain data indicates that the confiscated Bitcoins were transferred via coin mixers—a technique usually used to hide transaction trails—and then deposited into centralized exchanges, including Huobi, in the latter half of 2019.
If this claim is valid, it implies that the assets were liquidated shortly following the seizure in mid-2019 rather than kept by the state as part of any long-term reserve strategy. Though China is frequently mentioned among the top nations holding Bitcoin, statistics show that these holdings are still not in government-controlled wallets.
BTC As a Strategic Asset
State-level Bitcoin holdings have strategic ramifications that go well beyond speculation. Regulatory control of exchanges, miners, or custodians dictates global access to BTC.
Still, BTC holdings offer a pressure valve for wealth to move across borders in restricted environments.
Conclusion
The US has more transparent and auditable Bitcoin exposures via public firms, ETFs, and government seizures. In contrast, China’s footprint remains through historic mining supremacy, hidden demand, and infrastructure domination.
Hence, national involvement will continue to affect BTC’s usability, liquidity, and long-term impact.
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