Venezuela reportedly holds up to 600,000 bitcoins as a shadow cryptocurrency reserve
According to unofficial reports, Venezuela may have amassed a significant shadow reserve of cryptocurrency — up to 600,000 bitcoins. This occurred after the 2018 sale of around 73 tonnes of gold, with sources estimating that the proceeds were converted into bitcoin to evade sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Additionally, it is claimed that by the end of 2025 a substantial portion of the country’s oil payments were made in USDT, which were subsequently converted into BTC. This strategy helped Venezuela bypass financial restrictions while preserving assets in cryptocurrency. This indicates the growing role of digital currencies in energy and geopolitical finance.
Going forward, this development could impact cryptocurrency market dynamics and highlight a broader trend of using digital assets as a safeguard under sanctions.
