SEC Chair: ‘Remains To Be Seen’ Whether US Will Seize Venezuela‘s Reported Bitcoin

Staff Writer

January 16, 2026

Several blockchain analysts said they were unable to verify whether the Latin American nation holds $60 billion in the cryptocurrency.

President Donald Trump participates in the swearing-in ceremony of Security and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in the Oval Office
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Paul Atkins, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said it “remains to be seen” what actions the US government might take regarding Venezuela’s reported Bitcoin holdings, while stressing that such decisions would fall outside his remit.

In a Monday interview with Fox Business’ Stuart Varney, Atkins responded to reports claiming that Venezuela holds up to $60 billion worth of Bitcoin

BTC$95,518, though several analysts said they were unable to verify these claims. The SEC chair said it “remains to be seen” what action, if any, the US would take if it had the opportunity to seize the reported 600,000 BTC.

“I leave that to others in the administration to deal with — I’m not involved in that,” said Atkins in response to a question on whether the US would “take those Bitcoin off ‘em.”

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Bitcoin / RH / SEC / Venezuela

Staff Writer

The Manhattan is a new media outlet combatting the Leftist narrative in NYC. We love The Big Apple, we want it to succeed and prosper and are committed to revealing how flawed ‘progressive’ policy is ruinous. As crime spikes, the homeless crisis balloons, schools continue to degrade, and quality of life plummets, we’re determined to help effectuate change. The Manhattan will fearlessly chronicle the problems and try to offer solutions. We won’t shy away from issues, we will lean into them.