Taiwan’s government said it is holding more than 210.45 bitcoin, worth about $18 million, all of which were seized during criminal investigations related to fraud, money laundering, and other financial crime. This disclosure was in response to a legislator’s demand for information on the state’s digital asset balance, exposing Taiwan as the 10th largest government holder of bitcoin in the world.
The value of the seized digital assets has amounted to nearly 1.3 billion NTD (about $41 million), including those in stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies. Taiwan’s stash of bitcoin is entirely the byproduct of law enforcement seizures, not strategic investing, and officials emphasise that these are funds gleaned from fighting cybercrime and financial misfeasance.
In addition to bitcoin, the Taiwanese government also holds considerable amounts of stablecoins like USDT and USDC, as well as over 2,400 ethereum coins and smaller amounts of other digital tokens. Officials are seeking to standardize the storage, tracking and reporting of such assets systemwide so the media can be assured of transparency and security.
The fate of the seized bitcoin remains undecided. Usually the practice is to auction the confiscated assets, and the proceeds are poured into the public coffers, but legislators have begun debating whether to categorize bitcoin as a strategic commodity. Some feel virtual assets are not just speculative commodities but could have a role in national security or financial sovereignty.
Taiwan’s central bank has reportedly agreed to conduct a more detailed study of bitcoin, including potential regulatory schemes and experiments involving confiscated funds. It seems the acquisition of a long-term strategy would require legislative and regulatory guidance, an indication of the increasing relevance of digital assets as a matter of public policy and finance.
Worldwide, over 640,000 BTC, which accounts for around 3% of all bitcoin supply, are held by governments, with the United States holding the largest amount, followed by China and the UK.Taiwan’s position highlights the expanding role of cryptocurrencies in law enforcement and national asset management.
