Is Venezuela’s Bitcoin the Next Target After Oil?

Jakarta, Pintu News – President Donald Trump’s announcement of the transfer of millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil to the United States has sparked speculation about other Venezuelan assets that may be the next target, including the country’s alleged Bitcoin holdings.

Oil Takeover Sets Precedent

President Trump announced via Truth Social that the oil would be “sold at market prices” and the proceeds “controlled by me, as President of the United States.” At around $56 per barrel, this transaction could be worth up to $2.8 billion.

A meeting in the Oval Office has been scheduled for Friday with executives from Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips to discuss Venezuela’s oil sector, suggesting that Washington’s interest goes beyond one-off transfers. Venezuela has the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been ordered by Trump to implement the plan “immediately,” with storage vessels that would transport the oil directly to US ports.

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Bitcoin Speculation Increases

With physical assets starting to flow to Washington, attention is now turning to Venezuela’s alleged cryptocurrency holdings. Some reports claim that the Maduro regime has amassed a “shadow reserve” of Bitcoin (BTC) to evade international sanctions. Estimates of the amount vary widely.

Project Brazen reports that Venezuela may have around $60 billion in Bitcoin (BTC), citing unnamed sources. Bitcointreasuries.net puts the figure at just 240 BTC, worth about $22 million. Neither estimate has been verified through on-chain analysis.

Why Bitcoin is Different

Unlike oil tankers that can be diverted to US ports, Bitcoin (BTC) cannot be physically seized. To seize the cryptocurrency, a private key or the cooperation of a depositor in US jurisdiction is required. It is highly unlikely that Venezuela uses the custody services of America or its allies given their sanctioned status. Maduro’s inner circle has likely spread their holdings across multiple wallets, making it extremely difficult to trace.

However, the properties that make Bitcoin (BTC) difficult to confiscate also make it very easy to move – for anyone with the right information. Unlike gold bars or oil barrels that require physical logistics, anyone with a private key can move Bitcoin (BTC) anywhere in the world in minutes.

Conclusion

While Venezuelan oil heads to American ports, their Bitcoin (BTC), if any, remains locked behind unknown locks-out of reach of even the most aggressive enforcement actions. This speculation adds weight in light of Trump’s executive order to create a strategic reserve of Bitcoin (BTC) “at no cost to taxpayers.”

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Reference

• BeInCrypto. Trump Secures Venezuelan Oil, Bitcoin Next Target. Accessed on January 8, 2026