TLDR: 

Venezuela allegedly holds 660,000 BTC valued at $67 billion accumulated through multiple channels
Regime converted $2 billion in gold into 400,000 Bitcoin at $5,000 average price since 2018
Alex Saab, system architect, was a DEA informant allowing U.S. to monitor operations in real-time
Private keys to alleged $67 billion Bitcoin reserve remain unlocated following Maduro’s capture

Venezuela may control one of the world’s largest Bitcoin reserves, according to recent intelligence reports. The alleged stash could contain between 600,000 and 660,000 BTC, valued at approximately $56 billion to $67 billion at current prices. 

Intelligence sources suggest the regime accumulated this cryptocurrency hoard over several years through gold sales, sanctioned oil settlements, and mining seizures. 

The revelation comes as Nicolás Maduro faces capture, triggering a race to locate the private keys controlling these digital assets.

Building the Shadow Reserve Through Multiple Channels

Intelligence reports from HUMINT and Whale Hunting sources describe what analysts call a “shadow reserve” of Bitcoin and Tether. 

The accumulation strategy allegedly began in 2018 when Venezuela started liquidating gold from the Orinoco Mining Arc. Reports indicate the regime converted roughly $2 billion in gold into Bitcoin at an average price of $5,000 per coin. 

This operation alone would have yielded approximately 400,000 BTC, now worth $36 billion at today’s prices of around $90,000.

The regime then expanded its cryptocurrency operations beyond gold conversions. After the state-backed “Petro” experiment collapsed, Caracas shifted to using Tether for crude oil sales. 

This move allowed the government to circumvent sanctions while maintaining access to international markets. According to the reports, authorities “washed” USDT proceeds back into Bitcoin to avoid the risk of Tether address freezes. This strategy provided both liquidity and security for the accumulating reserve.

Bitcoin News detailed the estimated breakdown of accumulation sources across multiple years. Gold swaps between 2018 and 2020 contributed approximately $45 billion to $50 billion to the reserve. 

Oil settlements from 2023 to 2025 added another $10 billion to $15 billion. Mining seizures from 2023 to 2024 provided an additional $500 million. 

These multiple revenue streams created what intelligence analysts describe as a sophisticated cryptocurrency accumulation engine operating under extreme sanctions pressure.

The DEA Connection and Current Stakes

Court documents revealed an unexpected dimension to Venezuela’s Bitcoin operations. Alex Saab, identified as the architect of the accumulation system, had served as a DEA informant since 2016.

Reports indicate that “Washington was watching the architecture being built in real-time” through this connection. The situation raises questions about what information U.S. authorities possessed during the accumulation period and why the operations continued unimpeded.

With Maduro now captured, the focus shifts to securing the Bitcoin holdings. Sources emphasize that “the Bitcoin is not yet secured” and the private keys controlling these wallets remain unaccounted for. 

The coming days represent what analysts describe as “a high-stakes race to locate the private keys” controlling potentially $67 billion in cryptocurrency. Multiple parties could potentially access these funds, including remaining regime loyalists or international authorities.

The outcome could significantly affect the proposed U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Questions remain whether “the U.S. gain access to the hoard and add it to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, or do Maduro’s cronies run away with it.

” If American authorities secure the alleged Venezuelan holdings, it would represent a massive addition to any national cryptocurrency reserve. The coming period will determine whether these billions in Bitcoin become state assets or disappear into private hands.

 

The post Venezuela’s Alleged $67 Billion Bitcoin Reserve Exposed After Maduro Capture appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ January 4, 2026 8:44 pm