Bitcoin is now recognized as a key financial resource. Countries increasingly store it within state portfolios. Shift noticeable - once met with caution, now treated as a valuable reserve. Attitudes transformed from skepticism toward institutional embrace. Here's a look at the top Bitcoin holders as of 2026.
1. United States of America
Leading global holdings sit in America, where 198,012 BTC are held. A significant portion of this digital stockpile, valued at around $18 billion, arrived via high-profile legal seizures - among them, the dismantling of Silk Road and reclaimed assets from the Bitfinex breach. Since then, policy direction under Trump began tilting; Bitcoin moved slowly from forensic exhibit toward inclusion in broader financial reserves.
2. China
Even though trade rules are tight, China owns about 194,000 BTC. A large part arrived after authorities took control of funds linked to the 2019 PlusToken scam. Worth more than 17.6 billion dollars now, the stash remains under state oversight. Following legal actions that year, digital assets were moved into official custody without delay.
3. United Kingdom
Third globally stands the United Kingdom, holding 61,245 BTC. These individuals entered state custody largely due to probes into illicit activity. A series of operations targeting complex financial concealment systems led to the acquisition. Years of enforcement actions contributed to the total. Judicial processes followed each seizure. Assets were transferred under legal authority. Quantity reflects outcomes of multiple case resolutions.
4. Ukraine
With 46,351 bitcoins held, Ukraine built its reserves mostly via international digital currency gifts aimed at rebuilding efforts after the conflict. Such inflows highlight how Bitcoin can serve as critical funding when political instability strikes. Yet another example of assets shifting beyond traditional borders under pressure.
5. Bhutan
Bhutan ranks unexpectedly at number five, holding 11,286 BTC. Instead of confiscating digital assets, the country draws on plentiful hydropower. State-run facilities mine Bitcoin using this clean energy source. Power availability significantly influences national strategy in subtle yet profound ways.
6. UAE
A shift toward digital finance defines the nation’s path, where 6,348 BTC signals intent beyond mere investment. Positioning emerges through deliberate steps in shaping tomorrow’s economic structures.
7. El Salvador
Becoming the initial nation to accept Bitcoin legally, El Salvador holds 6,267 BTC. Though prices shift unpredictably, President Nayib Bukele continues purchasing a single unit each day.
8. North Korea Lazarus Group
Appearing without warning, the Lazarus Group - believed by some to have ties to North Korea’s state apparatus - holds roughly 804 BTC. These holdings trace back, per Chainalysis findings, not only to digital intrusions but also breaches within decentralized finance systems across global networks.
9. Venezuela
Despite ongoing financial turmoil, Venezuela has adopted Bitcoin to counter rapid currency devaluation, holding a small reserve of 240 BTC. Still, the nation's exposure stays limited amid broader economic challenges.
10. Finland
Once holding thousands of BTC seized in crime investigations, Finland moved to sell much of the stash. A mere 90 coins remain, set aside not for profit but for observation. This fragment stays under state control - less an asset, more a test case. What began as evidence ends as a data point in fiscal policy.
This surge in worldwide Bitcoin acquisition marks a change in national attitudes toward digital money - no longer seen as an uncertain experiment, but as part of long-term reserves. With its place in finance shifting steadily, current government positions could merely introduce broader state-level crypto approaches.
