Skip to content

Did the Trump administration quietly begin buying Bitcoin since inauguration?

Did the Trump administration quietly begin buying Bitcoin since inauguration?

The coming of the Trump administration swiftly bore fruit for the cryptocurrency industry since, as it entered the white house, Gary Gensler exited the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), thus ending what many called ‘operation chokepoint 2.0’ and the ‘war on crypto.’

Still, more direct actions favoring digital assets have been scarce – though not non-existent –  and such has been the case with the hoped-for strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve. 

Under the circumstances, Finbold elected to examine blockchain sources such as Arkham Intelligence to try and determine if the incumbent government has been buying cryptocurrencies behind the scenes.

Is the Federal Government loading up on Bitcoin?

As quickly became apparent from the available data, even if the Trump administration has been buying BTC, the quantities have been trivial. Indeed, Arkham Intelligence shows no noteworthy change in the total amount of cryptocurrency owned by the U.S. government.

This, however, does not mean the already-existing reserve is negligible. Specifically, records show the Federal Government holds nearly 200,000 BTC at press time. 

U.S. government cryptocurrency holdings history
U.S. top cryptocurrency holdings on January 20 and 30. Source: Arkham

Many other cryptocurrencies are also in the hands of the administration, and – other than Bitcoin – the top holdings include Ethereum (ETH), BNB (BNB), the wrapped versions of the major coins and tokens, and a selection of stablecoins like USDC and USDT.

In total, the value of government cryptocurrency stands at a substantial – but not staggering – $21 billion. 

The U.S. Government crypto trading activity revealed

Though no substantial buying has occurred since January 20, it is worth pointing out that sections of the government, such as the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have not exercised their right to sell BTC seized from the Silk Road.

Thanks to Bitcoin appreciating to its press time price of $101,436, their holdings have grown to nearly $7.3 billion in value.

Bitcoin seized from Silk Road balance history.
Silk Road Bitcoin balance on January 1 and 30. Source: Arkham

Such trading activity – or rather, the lack thereof – indicates that the authorities are following the guidelines set by Trump when he promised not to sell any cryptocurrency found under Federal control.

Featured image via Shutterstock

Best Crypto Exchange for Intermediate Traders and Investors

  • Invest in cryptocurrencies and 3,000+ other assets including stocks and precious metals.

  • 0% commission on stocks - buy in bulk or just a fraction from as little as $10. Other fees apply. For more information, visit etoro.com/trading/fees.

  • Copy top-performing traders in real time, automatically.

  • eToro USA is registered with FINRA for securities trading.

30+ million Users worldwide
Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finbold.com is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB and/or the BD

Read Next:

Finance Digest

By subscribing you agree with Finbold T&C’s & Privacy Policy

Related posts

Sign Up

or

By submitting my information, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Already have an account?

Services

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Finbold is a news and information website. This Site may contain sponsored content, advertisements, and third-party materials, for which Finbold expressly disclaims any liability.

RISK WARNING: Cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. (Click here to learn more about cryptocurrency risks.)

By accessing this Site, you acknowledge that you understand these risks and that Finbold bears no responsibility for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from your use of the Site or reliance on its content. Click here to learn more.