Bitcoin under pressure as U.S. locks away 328,372 BTC – Details

As many retail investors begin to lose confidence, the United States Government is drawing attention for its massive Bitcoin holdings.

As of the 17th February, Bitcoin has fallen 1.4% in the past 24 hours and is trading near $67,996.

Over the past month, it has lost more than 28% of its value and has failed several times to rise above the key $70,000 level. This has made many investors nervous.

However, data from Arkham Intelligence shows something surprising. Despite the market panic, the U.S. government still holds about 328,372 BTC, worth around $22.5 billion. 

Remarking on which, Arkham noted, 

“The US Government is bullish on Bitcoin.”

What’s behind this shift?

Under U.S. President Donald Trump, the country has taken a more supportive approach.

The U.S. has started treating Bitcoin [BTC] as a strategic asset and has made plans to store its holdings in a permanent Digital Asset Stockpile.

Data from Bitbo shows that the U.S. now holds more Bitcoin than any other country, followed by China and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, according to Chainalysis, India ranked first in crypto adoption in 2025 for the third year in a row. This means millions of Indians are using crypto. However, the rules around it are still unclear.

Source: World Population Review

This issue was recently discussed in the Rajya Sabha during the Union Budget 2026–27 debate. MP Raghav Chadha criticized the government for earning money from crypto users without giving them clear legal protection.

Thus, while India leads in user numbers, the U.S. is focusing on building strong institutions around crypto.

Institutional interests in Bitcoin also rise

At the same time, interest in Bitcoin ETFs is growing again.

On the 15th of February, ETFs recorded $15.1 million in inflows, pushing their total value close to $100 billion since launch. This shows that big investors are still confident in Bitcoin.

In simple terms, while prices may look weak today, the biggest players are thinking about tomorrow. 

However, it’s important to note that the excitement at the start of 2026 has now cooled down. A new report from CoinShares shows that crypto investment products have seen money leave the market for four weeks in a row.

Therefore, it is not yet clear whether this phase is just a short “crypto winter” or a necessary correction before the next rise. What is clear is that crypto is now a part of a serious global financial strategy.

Final Summary

• Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. is shifting from doubt to a strategic approach toward Bitcoin.
• By holding billions in seized Bitcoin, the U.S. has quietly built one of the world’s largest digital asset reserves.