Key Takeaways
- A FOIA request reveals the US Marshals Service holds just 28,988 BTC, not the previously estimated 200,000 BTC.
- President Trump's executive order aims to consolidate federal bitcoin holdings into a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve overseen by the Treasury.
- Senator Cynthia Lummis calls the apparent bitcoin sell-off a major strategic mistake for the United States.
The U.S. Marshals Service reportedly holds just over 28,988 BTC, valued around $3.4 billion as of March 2025, according to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by independent journalist L0la L33tz.
FOIA request uncovers low holdings
L33tz filed the FOIA request in March and received a response from the Department of Justice confirming the agency’s current bitcoin balance.
This figure stands in stark contrast to public estimates.
For example, Arkham Intelligence and Bitcoin Treasuries have previously suggested that the U.S. government holds nearly 200,000 BTC across all federal agencies, worth roughly $25 billion.
The discrepancy highlights the lack of a centralized public database tracking federal bitcoin holdings.
Role of the US Marshals Service
The U.S. Marshals Service, responsible for managing seized assets from agencies like the FBI and IRS, has historically overseen the auctioning of confiscated bitcoin.
The recent FOIA revelation suggests that much of the seized bitcoin has already been sold off or transferred.
Strategic reserve policy
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to consolidate their bitcoin with the Treasury Department, establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
David Sacks, appointed as Trump’s bitcoin czar, has outlined strategies for expanding this reserve.
The order also created a separate U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile for assets other than bitcoin.
Senator Cynthia Lummis responded to the news:
“I’m alarmed by reports that the U.S. has sold off over 80% of its Bitcoin reserves—leaving just ~29,000 coins. If true, this is a total strategic blunder and sets the United States back years in the bitcoin race.”
Ongoing debate
With public estimates far exceeding the official figure, questions remain about how much bitcoin is held across all federal agencies. The new data renews calls for transparency and a unified approach to managing government bitcoin assets.
