Claims of Venezuela’s $60B Bitcoin reserve lack on-chain proof

Beincrypto reports that claims Venezuela holds a $60 billion Bitcoin reserve remain unproven and lack on-chain evidence, and that the US can prosecute Nicolás Maduro but cannot seize Bitcoin without proof, access, and jurisdiction.

The rumor centers on estimates of roughly 600,000 BTC accumulated to evade sanctions, with supporters citing informal oil trades, gold sales and domestic crypto use. However, no wallets or custodians have been identified and there is no verifiable on-chain evidence; public trackers and analysts more consistently point to about 240 BTC, a figure that is debated and not clearly linked to assets US authorities can reach.

Legally, seizure would require prosecutors to prove the assets are tied to charged crimes and would require physical access to private keys or cooperation from custodians or exchanges within US reach. The Ker–Frisbie doctrine and the US position on Maduro affect jurisdiction and immunity questions, but without identifiable wallets, jurisdictional reach and keys, outright seizure of a purported $60 billion reserve remains legally and practically implausible; authorities could freeze identified assets or pressure intermediaries, but the large claims stay out of reach without proof.

Key Topics

Crypto, Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, Bitcoin, Ker Frisbie Doctrine, Private Keys