Key Takeaways
- A FOIA request reveals the US Marshals Service holds simply 28,988 BTC, not the beforehand estimated 200,000 BTC.
- President Trump’s govt order goals to consolidate federal bitcoin holdings right into a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve overseen by the Treasury.
- Senator Cynthia Lummis calls the obvious bitcoin sell-off a serious strategic mistake for america.
The U.S. Marshals Service reportedly holds simply over 28,988 BTC, valued round $3.4 billion as of March 2025, in line with a Freedom of Data Act (FOIA) request submitted by unbiased journalist L0la L33tz.
FOIA request uncovers low holdings
L33tz filed the FOIA request in March and acquired a response from the Division of Justice confirming the company’s present bitcoin stability.
This determine stands in stark distinction to public estimates.
For instance, Arkham Intelligence and Bitcoin Treasuries have beforehand advised that the U.S. authorities holds almost 200,000 BTC throughout all federal businesses, value roughly $25 billion.
The discrepancy highlights the dearth of a centralized public database monitoring federal bitcoin holdings.
Function of the US Marshals Service
The U.S. Marshals Service, accountable for managing seized belongings from businesses just like the FBI and IRS, has traditionally overseen the auctioning of confiscated bitcoin.
The current FOIA revelation means that a lot of the seized bitcoin has already been bought off or transferred.
Strategic reserve coverage
Earlier this 12 months, President Donald Trump signed an govt order requiring federal businesses to consolidate their bitcoin with the Treasury Division, establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
David Sacks, appointed as Trump’s bitcoin czar, has outlined methods for increasing this reserve.
The order additionally created a separate U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile for belongings aside from bitcoin.
Senator Cynthia Lummis responded to the information:
“I’m alarmed by studies that the U.S. has bought off over 80% of its Bitcoin reserves—leaving simply ~29,000 cash. If true, it is a complete strategic blunder and units america again years within the bitcoin race.”
Ongoing debate
With public estimates far exceeding the official determine, questions stay about how a lot bitcoin is held throughout all federal businesses. The brand new information renews requires transparency and a unified strategy to managing authorities bitcoin belongings.