US Government’s Bitcoin Fire Sale: How $21B Slipped Through Uncle Sam’s Fingers
Since 2014, the US has been dumping Bitcoin like a bagholder panic-selling at the bottom—only to watch its value skyrocket. Now that ledger shows a $21 billion ’oops’ moment.
The great crypto yard sale
While Wall Street hedgies were stacking sats, the Feds treated BTC like a hot potato. Turns out those early auctions were less ’strategic exit’ and more ’burning money for warmth.’
Quantifying the facepalm
That $21B gap between what Treasury sold for and today’s prices? Enough to fund NASA’s Mars mission—or buy every Congressmember a solid gold yacht. But who’s counting?
Another masterclass in government financial foresight—right up there with selling Alaska for pennies. Maybe next time they’ll HODL.
Vice President JD Vance Speaking at 2025 bitcoin Conference – Source: nevadacurrent.com
US Bitcoin Sales Left $21 Billion on the Table Amid Country’s Crypto U-Turn
The United States is currently caught in a concerning position of fragility. The national debt has grown to unprecedented levels, reaching $36 trillion. Moreover, there are even more worries about what that could ultimately mean for the country and its citizens.
That has been a clear focus of the new presidential administration, with an entire commission dedicated to slashing federal spending. Yet, one shockingly overlooked potential revenue stream has officially come to light. In what has been a monumental year for Bitcoin, the US missed out on $21 billion from its BTC sales dating back to 2014.
The US had seized a host of bitcoins from the shut-down Silk Road, which led to a string of sales. According to a recent CryptoSlate report, from 2014 to 2023, the US Marshals Service sold 195,000 BTC for $366 million. That value mark has shown what the country has missed out on from not having a proper strategy relating to the cryptocurrency in place.
US Senator Cynthia Lummis recently said that, when accounting for opportunity costs, the country missed out on the $21 billion figure. Even at its present $105,000 price, they left $20.4 billion on the table. The senator called the missed opportunity “deeply troubling.” However, it should not be a thing of the past, as the current administration is committed to buying and holding the asset class. It should provide a strong opportunity for capital in the coming years.
