SEC Chair Paul Atkins signals uncertainty over potential U.S. seizure of Venezuela's alleged 600,000 BTC reserves

On January 13, 2026, SEC Chair Paul Atkins said in an interview that U.S. authorities might seize Venezuela's alleged 600,000 Bitcoin holdings but emphasized no decision has been taken and the issue lies outside the SEC's primary authority. The reported BTC stash, estimated between $56 billion and $67 billion and still unverified, drew renewed attention after the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, while the Senate continues to review the CLARITY Act on digital asset regulation and decentralized finance.