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Chinese Bitcoin Holdings To Flip US?
Emerging data from Highcharts reveals that China needs 4,012 BTC to overtake the US as the country with the largest Bitcoin holdings.
According to the data, China currently holds 194,000 BTC, valued at approximately $17.13 billion at current market prices. Meanwhile, the US leads with 198,012 BTC in its reserves, but its top position is under threat from China.
With only 4,012 BTC, experts predict that China will surpass the US and become the largest holder of Bitcoin. Despite a blanket ban on cryptocurrencies in 2021 and a selling spree in recent years, China’s BTC holdings have remained respectable.
While China has no official Bitcoin reserves, the Asian superpower has accumulated Bitcoin over the years via diverse strategies. The bulk of China’s BTC came from seizures, with authorities famously seizing nearly 200,000 BTC from the PlusToken Ponzi scheme in 2021.
Aside from the confiscation of digital assets linked to crime, a small share of BTC holdings came from government-linked investments in mining before the blanket ban.
On the flip side, the Trump-led administration has made clear its intent to make the US the “world’s crypto capital.” An executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in 2025 signaled the strongest intent, but nearly one year later, the country’s BTC holdings showed no significant increase.
 
Like China, the US is not actively purchasing Bitcoin as a significant chunk of its holdings comes from criminal seizures. In late 2025, China accused the US of stealing $13 billion in Bitcoin through criminal proxies with “state-level backing.”
Nation States Enter The BTC Race
While the US and China hold considerable leads, other countries are increasing their Bitcoin holdings. According to the data, the UK ranks third with nearly 100,000 BTC, while Ukraine ranks fourth, bolstered by a wave of donations amid its armed conflict with Russia.
Bhutan and El Salvador also made the cut with significant investment in Bitcoin mining and steady purchases over the years. Notably, Germany sold all its Bitcoin holdings, a move that saw it tumble from fourth place and sparked widespread criticism.
Source: https://zycrypto.com/china-needs-only-4012-btc-to-surpass-us-bitcoin-holdings-despite-blanket-ban/