Author

Topic: How many bitcoins do governments and central banks own? (Read 2657 times)

legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1002
It wouldnt be the government, but more towards banks thats have ties with private networks between companies.

Companies that have access to large transactions doing insider deals can take place. Eg: Coinbase

Instead of a bank getting involved, they have friends who place their money into a VC firm, which then funds the start ups like coinbase. They play both sides of this game, it was never a competition since thats an illusion for most.

They play to win, not to lose. Its a zero sum game, 1 way bets.
sr. member
Activity: 1148
Merit: 252
Undeads.com - P2E Runner Game
I dont think they own a single bitcoin. If a central bank buys something you would see obvious clues about that.

A central bank doesnt buy 1000$ worth of bitcoins, they buy them in billion $ quantities.

If they would be serious then the bitcoin market cap now would be like 1 trillion $ of which 98% would be from central banks.

If they are not serious , then they dont buy a single one because they got other things to worry about.

Central banks/governments do not have to buy bitcoins.
Seized bitcoins (like Silk Road bitcoins) are included in their kitty too.
In the future, if governments allow payments for services through bitcoins (there is already some talk regarding this), their holdings will increase.

They already auctioned those coins, so i dont think they hold them. Besides that was a law enforcement agency holding the coins and not the treasury.

There is a difference between coins held as evidence in a crime, or coins held in a treasury account which then can be used for spending or who knows what.
legendary
Activity: 3248
Merit: 1070
In the future, if governments allow payments for services through bitcoins (there is already some talk regarding this), their holdings will increase.

Only if they decide to keep a balance in bitcoins...

they don't need it, they are already rich, they can print useless money all days, this is why they are not interested in bitcoin

the only bitcoin they will ever have are those confiscated, and then used for various auctions
legendary
Activity: 1918
Merit: 1012
★Nitrogensports.eu★
In the future, if governments allow payments for services through bitcoins (there is already some talk regarding this), their holdings will increase.

Only if they decide to keep a balance in bitcoins...

Yup. Since most governments run a deficit, it will only be rich governments which do this. If Bitcoin becomes some kind of a reserve currency, then most central banks will tend to hoard it.  Grin
newbie
Activity: 32
Merit: 0
The ones they have publicly admitted to having (Dark market coins) have been sold off I believe. That isn't to say they might have stashes of coins out of public view.
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 1021
In the future, if governments allow payments for services through bitcoins (there is already some talk regarding this), their holdings will increase.

Only if they decide to keep a balance in bitcoins...
legendary
Activity: 1918
Merit: 1012
★Nitrogensports.eu★
I dont think they own a single bitcoin. If a central bank buys something you would see obvious clues about that.

A central bank doesnt buy 1000$ worth of bitcoins, they buy them in billion $ quantities.

If they would be serious then the bitcoin market cap now would be like 1 trillion $ of which 98% would be from central banks.

If they are not serious , then they dont buy a single one because they got other things to worry about.

Central banks/governments do not have to buy bitcoins.
Seized bitcoins (like Silk Road bitcoins) are included in their kitty too.
In the future, if governments allow payments for services through bitcoins (there is already some talk regarding this), their holdings will increase.
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
I guess central banks and private banks only own bitcoins for research matters so far.

They released some research papers or announced to develope own blockchain-based coins:

http://www.coindesk.com/european-central-bank-digital-currencies-inherently-unstable/
http://www.coindesk.com/ubs-to-research-blockchain-technology-in-london-lab/
hero member
Activity: 770
Merit: 509
No one can know that unless they talk it out.
Yeah I think its impossible to know, unless they make the mistake of making an address public that is linked to something gov related then we could keep track of it on the blockchain lol.
sr. member
Activity: 1148
Merit: 252
Undeads.com - P2E Runner Game
I dont think they own a single bitcoin. If a central bank buys something you would see obvious clues about that.

A central bank doesnt buy 1000$ worth of bitcoins, they buy them in billion $ quantities.

If they would be serious then the bitcoin market cap now would be like 1 trillion $ of which 98% would be from central banks.

If they are not serious , then they dont buy a single one because they got other things to worry about.
newbie
Activity: 51
Merit: 0
No one can know that unless they talk it out.
newbie
Activity: 42
Merit: 0
let's ask them because no one can answer your question except them
newbie
Activity: 57
Merit: 0
I think noone can know that because Bitcoin is anonymous unless they announced that
legendary
Activity: 3514
Merit: 1280
English ⬄ Russian Translation Services
be careful what you wish for  Wink

Quote
...
Alternatively, it can attempt to exercise direct control over digital
currencies by offering them a form of quasi-membership status, where increased
legitimacy is traded for Bitcoin users' business.
...

I'm utterly curious as to whom they are going to offer a membership status in the IMF. Who are those "them" actually, all bitcoin holders taken together and separately, or just miners alone? Why would anyone in their right mind want to have anything to do with this International Misery Fund?

Sounds like a job for the Bitcoin Foundation?
Isn't that their mission, to sell us out to the global elite, while paying the developers to make "approved upgrades"?

Your "approved upgrades" sounds a bit scary to me. Moreover, if they are really going to offer a membership status in the IMF to the Bitcoin Foundation, this most certainly means they aim to get control over Bitcoin through the Foundation, but since the latter has no control over the blockchain, why would they in the first place?
legendary
Activity: 2114
Merit: 1040
A Great Time to Start Something!
be careful what you wish for  Wink

Quote
...
Alternatively, it can attempt to exercise direct control over digital
currencies by offering them a form of quasi-membership status, where increased
legitimacy is traded for Bitcoin users' business.
...

I'm utterly curious as to whom they are going to offer a membership status in the IMF. Who are those "them" actually, all bitcoin holders taken together and separately, or just miners alone? Why would anyone in their right mind want to have anything to do with this International Misery Fund?

Sounds like a job for the Bitcoin Foundation?
Isn't that their mission, to sell us out to the global elite, while paying the developers to make "approved upgrades"?
legendary
Activity: 1988
Merit: 1012
Beyond Imagination
It's all depends on fiat money's status, in US very unlikely due to super strength of USD. But in some other countries it is not so certain if the government would like to have some bitcoin as foreign currency reserve, if they are able to handle the technical details of bitcoin of course.

It can be used as a tool to overcome the capital control by banks
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 1021
I know that the FBI holds the most amount of bitcoin in the world, at aournd liek 100000 bitcoins

AFAIK the U.S. government seized 173,991, but sold 30k of that in June 2014, 50k in December 2014 and 50k in March 2015

~43,991 Bitcoins should be remaining from SR, of course their stash could grow again, if people continue to do stupid things (other SR-like markets, unregistered brokers/dealers, etc.)

I am sure that the banks that are getting involved with crypto currency have their own stock of it, for normal bank like purposes.

It's highly unlikely that any bank keeps Bitcoins directly as a part of their assets - if they want to get involved they will acquire shares in Bitcoin companies or licensed Bitcoin funds
full member
Activity: 209
Merit: 100
I know that the FBI holds the most amount of bitcoin in the world, at aournd liek 100000 bitcoins, but that is from raids on the deep web and silk road and all of those types of sites.  I am sure that the banks that are getting involved with crypto currency have their own stock of it, for normal bank like purposes.  I am sure i total, the U.S governmant and banks combined may have a little under 500k.
sr. member
Activity: 414
Merit: 250
I believe that the banks will not only want to but have to get into the game on Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies... – it’s just a question of time
legendary
Activity: 896
Merit: 1000
i don't think they own a single satoshi beside the seized coins that they have sold or are going to sell.
regarding banks. they are interested in the blockchain. not really in bitcoin.
legendary
Activity: 868
Merit: 1006
Until the Victorian government announces that they are going to auction off bitcoins which they confiscated, I had the impression that only the US marshals had the coin. And it will not be a surprise if there are even more bitcoins held by government from other countries and that could even include the central banks.
I still think they are probably too dumb to keep any Bitcoins, they would rather sell it and spend 100% of the gains on gold if they want to store value.
Q7
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
Until the Victorian government announces that they are going to auction off bitcoins which they confiscated, I had the impression that only the US marshals had the coin. And it will not be a surprise if there are even more bitcoins held by government from other countries and that could even include the central banks.
legendary
Activity: 868
Merit: 1006
Other than coins still waiting to be sold off, I'd be very surprised if it's anything other than zero. They've got their own money to play with.
The logical thing for them to do is to hold at least a % of those coins, but they are probably auditing 100% of the stolen stacks from exchanges because they probably don't even know what to do with them.
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 1021
just to lobby against bitcoin altogeather, like they do against everything else that doesnt suit them.

Really? There are Bitcoin businesses and people making money with Bitcoin in most countries.

Do you really think an economy like Russia will be better off by banning Bitcoin than the UK?
legendary
Activity: 1722
Merit: 1000
Satoshi is rolling in his grave. #bitcoin
There is no way of knowing this one for sure, they could have nothing, but on the other hand maybe they are hoarding up, just in case things get too serious for them, but
thats a longshot, since it would be much more financially wise just to lobby against bitcoin altogeather, like they do against everything else that doesnt suit them.

cheers
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 1021
It seems like this could represent another ongoing "success" indicator.

While some U.S. states are planning to accept Bitcoin for payments (New York, Utah, New Hampshire) I don't think that any government or central bank already owns bitcoins that are part of their budget (only from seizure)
legendary
Activity: 3248
Merit: 1070
i think none, if they went serious about it, they would control a large stack already and manipulate every exchange like nothing
hero member
Activity: 534
Merit: 500
Assuming that they want to have a controlling interest in this particular form of money, I would say that they probably own a fair share of bitcoins in various unmentioned wallets.
hero member
Activity: 493
Merit: 518
This is an interesting segment of the Comment. 

BTW, this is a policy oriented law review article (i.e., lots of pontification and speculation) written by a student member of the law review its published in.  The person has since graduated and practices in a litigation group of a solid firm.  In other words, consider the source when evaluating the article (a busy first year associate that has no time for this stuff).  Its an interesting topic, though. 
legendary
Activity: 3514
Merit: 1280
English ⬄ Russian Translation Services
be careful what you wish for  Wink

Quote
...
Alternatively, it can attempt to exercise direct control over digital
currencies by offering them a form of quasi-membership status, where increased
legitimacy is traded for Bitcoin users' business.
...

I'm utterly curious as to whom they are going to offer a membership status in the IMF. Who are those "them" actually, all bitcoin holders taken together and separately, or just miners alone? Why would anyone in their right mind want to have anything to do with this International Misery Fund?
legendary
Activity: 3346
Merit: 3130
It seems like this could represent another ongoing "success" indicator.

This is hard to know because we don't really know who own the btc. We can only see wallets with a lot of coins but we can't know who is the owner of that coins just following the transactions.
legendary
Activity: 1441
Merit: 1000
Live and enjoy experiments
be careful what you wish for  Wink

Quote
This Comment introduced Bitcoin in conjunction with the history of the
International Monetary Fund in order to demonstrate the possibility of future
conflict
between the two. The peer-to-peer, decentralized, and largely
unregulated system that is Bitcoin contains the potential to threaten the global
economic stability
that the TMF was created to protect. The threat posed by
Bitcoin is, for the moment, only theoretical. But as more and more people come
to understand the advantages of digital money over paper money, the threat it
poses becomes increasingly real. If the future of e-commerce entails a transition
to digital currencies, it is critical that our economic, political, and legal
institutions are prepared. Recognizing the importance of Bitcoin in the context
of digital currencies is the first step in understanding how to best plan for the
future.
How, when, and to what extent it will grow remains to be seen. But the
potential consequences of widespread adoption of the Bitcoin are already
palpable. In order to guard against the global economic destabilization that could
occur if and when the world decides to adopt digital currencies, we must
consider ways in which our national and international institutions can guide that
transition in the here and now. At present, the IMF has at least two options. It
can attempt to exercise indirect control over digital currencies vis-A-vis its
member nations by expanding the scope of Article IV, Section 5 of the Articles
of Agreement. Alternatively, it can attempt to exercise direct control over digital
currencies by offering them a form of quasi-membership status, where increased
legitimacy is traded for Bitcoin users' business.
Regardless of which measure is chosen, the potential need for a method to
combat speculative attacks using Bitcoin is clear. As the Internet continues to
play an increasingly important role in how we conduct commerce, our
institutions have to adjust to the new challenges this change creates. The
evolution of Bitcoin is no exception. Although still in its nascent stages, Bitcoin
and other digital currencies like it are projected to become important players in
the future of e-commerce. The time to consider how to prepare for that future is
now, before practical problems arise.

http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1407
legendary
Activity: 2590
Merit: 3015
Welt Am Draht
Other than coins still waiting to be sold off, I'd be very surprised if it's anything other than zero. They've got their own money to play with.
member
Activity: 63
Merit: 10
It seems like this could represent another ongoing "success" indicator.
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