Updated: February 11, 2026
Despite months of headlines claiming the United States is about to become the world’s largest Bitcoin buyer, the reality in February 2026 is far more mundane: the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve contains approximately 198,000 BTC (valued at roughly $13.5 billion at current prices around $68,000), and every single coin was acquired through criminal asset forfeiture — Silk Road, Bitfinex hack, ransomware seizures, etc. There is no active government purchasing program, no taxpayer-funded accumulation mandate, and no indication one is coming in 2026.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been explicit in congressional testimony and private briefings: “The Strategic Reserve is a vault, not a wallet. We hold forfeited assets. Market intervention is off the table.” This article explains the current holdings, why the much-discussed BITCOIN Act remains stalled, what the GENIUS Act stablecoin framework actually means for crypto, the technical recovery from $60K lows, and realistic price drivers for the rest of 2026.
Current US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve – Holdings & Origin
As of February 2026 the US government controls approximately 198,000 BTC across various forfeiture wallets (US Marshals Service, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI). Key facts:
- Total value: ~$13.5 billion (at $68,000/BTC)
- Percentage of total supply: ~0.94%
- Source: 100% criminal seizures — no open-market purchases
- Major historical seizures:
- Silk Road (2013–2022): ~174,000 BTC
- Bitfinex hack (2016): ~94,000 BTC (partial recovery)
- Various ransomware & darknet cases: remainder
- Current policy (Executive Order March 2025): HOLD only — no sales, no new buying
This is not a strategic accumulation vehicle like MicroStrategy or Metaplanet. It is a passive seizure warehouse.
The BITCOIN Act – Why It’s Dead in the Water
The Boosting Innovation, Technology, and Competitiveness through Optimized Investment Nationwide (BITCOIN) Act — introduced in 2024 and reintroduced in early 2025 — proposed that the Treasury purchase up to 1 million BTC over five years using various funding mechanisms (asset sales, seigniorage, etc.).
Current status (February 2026):
- Senate votes secured: ~45 (needs 60 to overcome filibuster)
- Primary blockers:
- Deficit hawks — $70B+ price tag during high-debt environment
- Fed independence concerns — balance-sheet BTC would undermine monetary policy credibility
- Political optics — “bailout for crypto bros” narrative toxic in election years
- Alternative focus: GENIUS Act (signed July 2025) prioritizes stablecoin regulation and banking integration over speculative reserve building
Conclusion: the BITCOIN Act is effectively stalled and unlikely to pass in its original form before the 2026 midterms.
Technical Recovery – From $60K Lows to Current Levels
BTC bottomed near $60,000 in late January 2026 — a zone defended by miner capitulation support, whale dip-buying, and ETF stabilization. Current price action (Feb 11–12):
- Price range: $68,400–$69,300
- Support: $67,300 (key level), $65,000 (50-day EMA), $60,000–$62,000 (prior capitulation cluster)
- Resistance: $70,000–$72,000 (psychological), $76,000–$78,000 (downtrend line)
- RSI (daily): ~38–42 → recovering from oversold; bullish divergence on 4H
- Fear & Greed Index: 25–30 → fear but off extreme lows
Hold above $67,300 keeps the relief rally alive; break below $65,000 risks retest of $60K.
Who Is Buying Bitcoin in 2026? (Reality vs Hype)
Government: HOLDING seized assets only (no new buys)
Corporate treasuries: MicroStrategy (now ~673,000 BTC), Metaplanet, Semler Scientific, etc. — continuing aggressive accumulation
Stablecoin ecosystem: GENIUS Act regulation → increased velocity & banking integration → indirect bullish pressure
Miners: Post-halving HODLing + efficiency upgrades
Long-term whales: Consistent dip buying (53,000 BTC net inflow last week alone)
Tapbit Trading Strategies – February 2026
- Sign Up on Tapbit (0% maker fees)
- Deposit USDT via P2P / bank transfer
- Dip accumulation: DCA BTC/USDT spot on pullbacks to $65,000–$67,000
- Reversal confirmation: Long BTC/USDT perpetuals on reclaim of $70,000–$72,000 (20–50x leverage, isolated margin)
- Risk-off hedge: Long XAU/USDT perpetuals or USDT Earn during macro fear
- Risk control: Max 1–2% account risk per trade; trailing stops below recent swing lows
FAQs – US Bitcoin Reserve & 2026 Outlook
Does the US government buy Bitcoin on the open market?
No. The Strategic Reserve consists exclusively of seized/forfeited assets (~198,000 BTC). Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has confirmed no taxpayer-funded purchases are planned.
What happened to the BITCOIN Act?
It remains stalled in the Senate (needs 60 votes to overcome filibuster). Deficit concerns, Fed independence issues, and political optics have blocked progress. Focus has shifted to stablecoin regulation via the GENIUS Act.
Is $60,000–$62,000 a strong bottom for BTC?
High-probability zone — capitulation volume cluster, miner support, whale accumulation. Break below opens risk toward $55,000–$58,000.
Who is actually buying Bitcoin right now?
Corporate treasuries (MicroStrategy, etc.), long-term whales, miners (post-halving HODL), and selective institutions on dips. Retail and many ETF flows are still de-risking.
Conclusion & Realistic 2026 Outlook
The US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is real — but it is a passive seizure vault containing 198,000 BTC (~$13.5B), not an active accumulation vehicle. No taxpayer-funded open-market buying program exists, the BITCOIN Act remains stalled, and Treasury policy under Scott Bessent is explicitly “hold, don’t buy.”
Bitcoin’s recent recovery from $60K lows to ~$69K has been driven by whale accumulation (53,000 BTC last week alone), miner HODLing, and early ETF stabilization — not government intervention. Tapbit provides traders with clean execution during these rotations: 0% maker fees on BTC/USDT spot & perpetuals, deep liquidity, up to 125x leverage (use conservatively), flexible Earn yields, P2P fiat ramps, and real-time charts with whale-flow overlays. Key levels to watch: $65K–$67K support hold, $70K–$72K resistance reclaim, U.S. CPI/PPI reaction, ETF flow direction, and funding-rate flips — the next 7–14 days will likely determine whether this remains a healthy reset or develops into deeper weakness.
Trade Bitcoin recovery momentum on Tapbit:
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risk of loss. Prices are highly volatile and can change rapidly. Government policy, legislative outcomes and on-chain flows do not guarantee future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose completely.
