US President Trump recently announced that the “interim authorities” in Venezuela will transfer approximately 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, which will be sold at market prices by the US side, with the proceeds directly controlled. Based on current oil prices, this batch of oil could be worth up to $2.8 billion. A few days ago, news of the US military capturing Nicolás Maduro further reinforced external expectations of systematic takeover of Venezuelan assets.
As oil assets are clearly brought under US control, the market has begun to focus on other assets that Venezuela may hold, especially Bitcoin. Some reports suggest that Maduro’s regime might establish a “shadow reserve” through cryptocurrencies to evade long-term sanctions. However, data on this is highly divided; some reports claim Venezuela holds Bitcoin worth up to $60 billion, while on-chain analytics platforms believe it only holds about 240 BTC. Currently, none of these claims have been verified by on-chain addresses or custody information.
Analysts point out that after being excluded from the traditional financial system, it is not logically impossible for Venezuela to turn to decentralized assets like Bitcoin. The country previously launched a cryptocurrency backed by oil, Petro, which ultimately failed, reflecting its long-term exploration of alternative financial systems.
Unlike physical assets like oil, Bitcoin cannot be physically seized. Whether assets can be confiscated depends on the private keys or cooperation from US-judicially governed custodial institutions. Given the sanctions context, Venezuela’s core circles are more likely to adopt self-custody and multi-wallet dispersal methods, greatly increasing the difficulty of tracking and control. However, once the private keys fall into US hands, Bitcoin could be fully transferred and confiscated in a short period.
This discussion has gained momentum partly because Trump proposed establishing a “Bitcoin strategic reserve” that does not require taxpayer funds. The market generally focuses on the possibility that the US government might acquire Bitcoin assets through judicial confiscation or sanctions enforcement in the future. If Venezuela indeed holds a significant amount of BTC, its trajectory could not only influence geopolitics but also become an important variable in the narrative of Bitcoin as a national-level reserve.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
GameStop Used Bitcoin Holdings for Covered-Call Options Strategy, SEC Filing Reveals
GameStop (NYSE: GME) disclosed in its fiscal 2025 annual report filed on March 24, 2026, that it pledged 4,709 of its 4,710 bitcoin as collateral with Coinbase Credit to execute a covered-call options strategy, generating premium income while maintaining economic exposure to the asset, rather than selling its holdings as market speculation had suggested.
CryptopulseElite20m ago
MARA Sells $1.1B Bitcoin, Repurchases $913M Debt in AI-Focused Pivot
MARA Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA), the world’s largest Bitcoin miner by market capitalization, announced on March 26, 2026, that it sold 15,133 bitcoin for approximately $1.1 billion between March 4 and March 25, while simultaneously repurchasing $913 million of its convertible notes at a discount to reduce outstanding indebtedness by roughly 30%.
CryptopulseElite39m ago
BTC drops below $70,000, long positions wiped out with $300 million liquidated, $14.16 billion options expiring today test the market direction
Bitcoin drops below $70,000, reaching a low of $69,036, with 24-hour liquidation hitting $248 million. Ethereum experiences the highest liquidation. Today, $14.16 billion worth of Bitcoin options expire, with the key strike at $75,000. Market sentiment is extremely fearful, and traditional markets continue to be under pressure. The future trend depends on geopolitical risks and the performance of U.S. stocks.
動區BlockTempo40m ago
Bitcoin and Ethereum account for 80% of the crypto market capitalization.
Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate the cryptocurrency market, holding approximately 67% and 13% of total market capitalization, respectively. This concentration indicates a strong preference for relatively stable assets among investors. Bitcoin is considered "digital gold," while Ethereum leads in decentralized applications and smart contracts. Their price movements significantly influence the overall market trends.
TapChiBitcoin41m ago
Prevent foreign infiltration! The UK will ban encrypted political donations, and the Reform Party, which accepts Bitcoin, strongly protests.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a freeze on party cryptocurrency donations in response to money laundering and foreign interference risks mentioned in the Rycroft report. The report highlights that crypto assets are difficult to trace and could become channels for illegal funds. The ban has been incorporated into the Representation Bill, requiring parties to refund any received crypto donations within a specified period. This move mainly addresses the controversy over the UK Reform Party's $16 million donation, with the government emphasizing that protecting democracy takes precedence over financial innovation.
CryptoCity1h ago
