U.S. Government Quietly Amassing Bitcoin Reserves—Through Seizures, Not Buys, Says Scott Bessent
The U.S. government isn’t buying Bitcoin—it’s seizing it. And according to Scott Bessent, that’s how they’re quietly building a war chest.
Forget ETFs or Treasury allocations. The real crypto accumulation strategy? Darknet busts, Silk Road relics, and the occasional rogue exchange takedown. Who needs market risk when you’ve got handcuffs?
Here’s the kicker: Every time a ‘criminal’ wallet gets drained, Uncle Sam’s cold storage gets heavier. No volatility. No congressional hearings. Just pure, unregulated confiscation—ironic for an asset built to escape government hands.
Meanwhile, Wall Street still argues over custody solutions. The Feds? They’ve got a simpler playbook: wait for someone to screw up, then hit ‘Ctrl+C’ on the blockchain. Classic ‘not your keys, not your coins’—unless you’re the DOJ.
Bonus cynicism: If this keeps up, the SEC might rebrand as the world’s most aggressive crypto hedge fund. Fees? Zero. Exit strategy? Life in prison.
TLDR
- US to grow Bitcoin reserve only through seizures, no purchases planned
- Bessent: No more Bitcoin buys, reserve to expand solely via confiscations
- US Bitcoin reserve will rise only from seizures, not new acquisitions
- Treasury ends Bitcoin buying plans, will add only from criminal forfeits
- Strategic Bitcoin Reserve growth now limited to seized crypto only
The U.S. government will no longer buy additional Bitcoin to grow its strategic reserve according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Instead, it will rely solely on assets seized through criminal and civil proceedings. The current reserve, worth an estimated $15 to $20 billion, will now be maintained without any future sell-offs.
Bitcoin: Reserve Growth by Confiscation Only
Scott Bessent ruled out the possibility of new bitcoin purchases for the U.S. reserve during a recent televised interview. He clarified that the current holdings, derived from past seizures, will be retained as part of the strategic stockpile. Future additions will only come from confiscated Bitcoin obtained through law enforcement actions.
Scott Bessent just told the truth about the “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.”
The Washington crypto lobby lied. They weren’t buying Bitcoin, they were selling.
1.) The United States will never buy Bitcoin.
2.) Scott Bessent will never be a speaker at The “Bitcoin” Conference. pic.twitter.com/Qjuke9Q9qM
— Justin Bechler (@1914ad) August 14, 2025
This decision marks a firm policy shift from earlier WHITE House discussions about buying more Bitcoin to expand holdings. While several officials had discussed budget-neutral strategies, such as exchanging gold reserves, those plans have been shelved. The Treasury now intends to grow the reserve exclusively through forfeitures.
In March, President TRUMP established the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, comprising approximately 198,000 BTC already in government possession. These were obtained from criminal cases and will remain under federal control. Officials confirmed that assets seized in the future will be added to the reserve but not sold.
Bitcoin Purchase Plans Quietly Abandoned
Administration officials signaled a strong interest in acquiring more Bitcoin using non-taxpayer funds. White House crypto lead David Sacks had stated that Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick WOULD decide how to implement such acquisitions. The goal was to remain budget-neutral by selling other assets.
Despite these ambitions, no purchases occurred and official statements began to contradict earlier enthusiasm. Bo Hines, executive director of the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets, had repeatedly advocated for expanding the reserve. Yet, no concrete strategy was followed and recent testimony lacked specific commitments.
A report released in July, meant to offer a roadmap for digital asset policy, omitted any updates on Bitcoin acquisition. Key deadlines passed without public updates, signaling a change in direction. Bessent’s latest remarks confirm that the federal strategy has shifted firmly toward non-purchase methods.
Market Response and Strategic Positioning
Bessent’s statements triggered an immediate drop in Bitcoin’s price, which fell over 4% in under an hour. Other cryptocurrencies, including Ether, also declined sharply in the wake of the news. The broader crypto index posted a noticeable loss following the announcement and the release of inflation data.
The government’s holdings remain a substantial asset, with estimates between $15 and $20 billion based on current prices. Officials confirmed they will stop liquidating Bitcoin from seizures, changing a long-standing practice. This shift represents a new strategic posture aligned with holding and accumulating rather than selling.
Federal agencies were supposed to propose legal pathways for Bitcoin expansion by early April, but they failed . No findings were disclosed by the May deadline for budget-neutral plans. The U.S. Bitcoin reserve will grow only through confiscation, not acquisition.
