Bitcoin jumped to three-week highs above $92,700 after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and crypto markets immediately lit up with speculation about a massive shadow Bitcoin reserve.
Intelligence reports suggest Venezuela secretly accumulated between 600,000 and 660,000 BTC worth $60 to $67 billion, making it one of the largest Bitcoin holders globally.
Is Venezuela hiding 600,000+ of Bitcoin off the books?
Intelligence reports suggest Venezuela may control a secret Bitcoin reserve of 600,000 to 660,000 BTC worth approximately $60 to $67 billion. If true, this would make Venezuela one of the largest Bitcoin holders on the planet, rivaling MicroStrategy and BlackRock’s institutional stashes.
Whether Maduro actually controls 600,000 BTC or a smaller amount, the fundamental story is the same: governments worldwide are accumulating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset, and when that supply gets locked away for years instead of hitting markets, prices explode upward.
Bitcoin already jumped 5% in the first week of 2026 on this news alone, with traders aggressively buying $100,000 call options and ETF inflows returning after December’s dry spell.
If the US adds even half of Venezuela’s alleged stash to a Strategic Reserve, that removes roughly 1.5% of circulating supply from markets permanently while institutional demand keeps accelerating.
Combined with potential oil price crashes giving the Fed room to cut rates faster, we’re looking at the perfect storm of tightening supply and increasing liquidity that historically produces 5x to 10x Bitcoin rallies.
