A wave of speculation is spreading rapidly across the global cryptocurrency community. Claims circulating suggest that Venezuela may be secretly holding between 600,000 and 660,000 Bitcoin. At current market prices, this alleged reserve could be valued at roughly $60 billion to $67 billion.
If the claims are accurate, Venezuela would rank among the largest Bitcoin holders in the world. The amount would place the country ahead of several governments and close to major institutional holders. While the information has not been officially confirmed, the size of the rumored holdings has drawn strong attention from traders, analysts, and crypto observers.
The discussion has intensified amid renewed scrutiny of state-controlled assets. Political developments in early 2026 have further increased interest in whether Venezuela holds undisclosed digital reserves beyond what is publicly known.
Official Holdings Show a Much Smaller Picture
Public records indicate that Venezuela officially reports holding only 240 BTC. At current prices, this amount is valued at approximately $21.45 million. These holdings are listed on public platforms that track government Bitcoin reserves.
The rumored figures are vastly larger than the official data. According to the claims, the reported Bitcoin represents only a small fraction of the country’s actual holdings. The remaining Bitcoin is believed to be stored in undisclosed digital wallets that are not reflected in official accounts.
New US sanctions hit Chinese companies and oil tankers tied to Venezuela
These alleged holdings are commonly described as “shadow reserves.” Supporters of the claim believe the Bitcoin was deliberately kept off official balance sheets to avoid monitoring or seizure. It is also claimed that the assets were spread across many wallets over time, making the total amount harder to identify despite Bitcoin’s public blockchain.
How the Bitcoin Was Allegedly Acquired
Reports claim that Venezuela began accumulating Bitcoin in 2018 under President Nicolás Maduro. The reported goal was to bypass international sanctions and protect national wealth from foreign control.
One key method involved gold swaps. According to the claims, around $2 billion worth of gold was exchanged for Bitcoin when prices were near $5,000 per coin. At those prices, such deals could have resulted in roughly 400,000 BTC.
Another method involved oil sales. Instead of receiving payments in U.S. dollars, oil was reportedly sold in exchange for USDT, a stablecoin. The USDT was then converted into Bitcoin, allowing transactions to avoid traditional banking systems.
A third source involved domestic Bitcoin mining. Government agencies allegedly seized mining equipment and access to digital wallets from local mining operators. These seized assets were reportedly transferred into state-controlled wallets, adding to the overall Bitcoin holdings.
According to the claims, these activities were coordinated through trusted channels. Alex Saab, a close associate of Nicolás Maduro, is believed to have played a central role in overseeing and managing these hidden Bitcoin reserves.
Iran shocks world by selling ballistic missiles and warships for crypto, bypassing sanctions
Political Events and Market Sensitivity
Interest in the rumors increased sharply after reports that U.S. authorities captured Nicolás Maduro in early 2026. This development reportedly triggered a political transition and renewed investigations into undisclosed state assets, including cryptocurrency holdings.
Attention has since focused on whether authorities could gain access to wallet recovery information through interrogations or legal processes. The handling of such a large amount of Bitcoin is considered highly sensitive due to potential market impact.
Past events highlight these concerns. In 2024, Germany’s sale of around 50,000 BTC reportedly caused Bitcoin prices to fall by 15 to 20 percent. The rumored Venezuelan holdings are more than ten times that amount.
Venezuela has a history of experimenting with digital assets. The country previously launched the Petro token, which failed to gain adoption. It later used USDT for oil transactions and, as early as 2019, explored adding Bitcoin and Ethereum to national reserves.
At present, the claim that Venezuela holds over 600,000 BTC remains unconfirmed. No official documentation or blockchain evidence has been released, but the rumors continue to attract global attention.