Venezuela’s $60 Billion Bitcoin “Shadow Reserve” Could Reshape Global BTC Markets

Following the January 2026 capture of President Nicolás Maduro, intelligence suggests Venezuela has amassed a 'shadow reserve' of 600,000 to 660,000 Bitcoin, valued between $60 and $67 billion, potentially rivaling major institutional holders. This accumulation reportedly began in 2018 through gold swaps and later by converting oil settlement proceeds (initially in USDT) into BTC to evade US sanctions. The scale of this reserve, estimated at roughly 3% of circulating supply, dwarfs previous government liquidations. The US now faces decisions regarding the reserve: freezing the assets in litigation, adding them to a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, or liquidation. Analysts favor freezing or adding them to a strategic reserve, which could lock up supply for years, creating a significant long-term bullish supply shock for Bitcoin. Furthermore, the post-Maduro transition government might encourage pro-crypto policies, though the assets remain effectively locked until private keys are secured.

(Source：BeInCrypto)