Trump Wants Venezuela's Bitcoin Not Oil: Report

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 17:28 IST

Trump's statement that the US would "run Venezuela" has been interpreted by some experts as signalling interest not only in traditional assets like oil but also in digital holdings

If seized, Venezuelan Bitcoin would likely be frozen and added to a strategic reserve rather than sold.

Global geopolitics and cryptocurrency have collided amid renewed scrutiny of Venezuela’s financial assets following the US arrest of President Nicolas Maduro. While the country’s vast oil reserves remain central to international interest, attention has increasingly turned to claims of a secretive Bitcoin stockpile, described by some reports as a “digital treasure" worth billions of dollars.

The key question is that, does Venezuela actually hold a massive Bitcoin reserve, or is the narrative built largely on speculation?

Reports by CNBC and Fortune have referred to claims of a so-called “shadow reserve" potentially worth around $60 billion (approximately Rs 5 lakh crore). These claims draw on investigations such as Project Brazen and Whale Hunting. However, no definitive confirmation has emerged from publicly verifiable blockchain data.

Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, co-founder of crypto lender Ledn, told Fortune that the idea of quietly amassing such a vast sum raises serious questions, particularly given Venezuela’s history of corruption and unexplained asset losses.

How many Bitcoins does Venezuela officially hold?

According to BitcoinTreasuries.net, which tracks government-held Bitcoin, Venezuela officially holds around 240 bitcoins, valued at roughly $22 million (about Rs 180 crore). This figure is based on a 2022 Forbes report and blockchain analytics data. On this basis, Venezuela ranks ninth globally in terms of government Bitcoin holdings.

Why do some reports claim Venezuela holds over 6,00,000 Bitcoins?

Unverified reports by crypto-focused platforms such as AMBcrypto and Coinpedia claim that Venezuela may actually control between 6,00,000 and 6,60,000 bitcoins, nearly 3% of Bitcoin’s total supply, valued at more than $60 billion.

If accurate, this would place Venezuela among the world’s largest Bitcoin holders, behind only entities such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), MicroStrategy, and Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, who is estimated to hold around 1.1 million bitcoins. However, these figures remain speculative and are not supported by publicly verifiable blockchain evidence.

Did Venezuela accumulate Bitcoin after US sanctions?

Reports published by Coinpedia and AMBcrypto in January 2026 claim that Venezuela began accumulating Bitcoin after facing intensified US sanctions in 2018. According to these accounts, gold extracted from the Orinoco Mining Arc was exchanged at rates as low as $5,000 per Bitcoin, with gold worth an estimated $2 billion allegedly yielding around 4,00,000 bitcoins.

The same reports suggest that oil export payments were routed through USDT (Tether) before being converted into Bitcoin to avoid account freezes. Bitcoin mining is also said to have contributed to reserves over several years, though mining was officially banned in Venezuela in 2024. These claims, however, have not been independently verified.

Why would Venezuela choose Bitcoin over gold or dollars?

Analysts cited in these reports argue that Bitcoin offered practical advantages under sanctions. Dollar assets risked being frozen, while transporting gold was costly and vulnerable to interception. Bitcoin, being decentralised, easier to move across borders, and harder to trace, was viewed as a hedge against hyperinflation and strict capital controls, which have plagued Venezuela’s economy for years.

How many Bitcoins does the US government hold?

According to BitcoinTreasuries.net and Wikipedia, the US government holds between 1,98,000 and 3,28,000 bitcoins, largely seized from criminal investigations. These holdings are valued at approximately $30-36 billion, making the US the world’s largest government holder of Bitcoin.

In March 2025, Donald Trump announced the creation of a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" through an executive order, incorporating seized assets and leaving the door open for future acquisitions.

Is the US interested in Venezuela’s oil, or its Bitcoin?

Speculation by CNBC, Fortune and AMBcrypto suggests that if Venezuela does possess a substantial Bitcoin reserve, it could be of strategic interest to the US. Analysts note that seizing such an asset could effectively lock away a significant portion of Bitcoin’s total supply, potentially triggering sharp price movements.

Trump’s statement that the US would “run Venezuela" has been interpreted by some experts as signalling interest not only in traditional assets like oil, but also in digital holdings. Analysts argue that any seized Bitcoin could be absorbed into the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, limiting the impact on taxpayers.

What is Donald Trump’s position on Bitcoin?

According to Fortune and CNBC, Trump has described Bitcoin as “digital gold" and is widely viewed as pro-crypto. Supporters of this approach see Bitcoin’s fixed supply and growing global adoption as making it a long-term strategic asset.

Analyses by AMBcrypto and Coinpedia suggest that, if seized, Venezuelan Bitcoin would likely be frozen and added to a strategic reserve rather than sold. Such a move could restrict supply and support prices, while prolonged legal disputes could keep the assets locked for years, with broader implications for global crypto markets.

Read More