- Donald Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela have renewed speculation the U.S. may seize state-linked Bitcoin (BTC) and add it to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
- Some Cubans worry the next target could be Cuba and assets tied to Miguel Díaz-Canel, given the island’s proximity to Florida and strategic position.
- Estimates of Venezuelan BTC holdings vary widely, from a small publicly tracked amount to contested claims of hundreds of thousands of coins.
- The White House ordered that the SBR be funded with forfeited BTC and said the U.S. will not sell coins deposited into it.
- Cuba has sanctioned and frozen assets, and its central bank oversees cryptocurrency activity, leaving open the possibility that hidden BTC could surface after a regime change.
The U.S. military’s recent move to take control of parts of Venezuela and orders to extract oil have prompted speculation that seized assets could include large amounts of bitcoin and might be added to a national reserve. This week there is widespread discussion among Cubans that Donald Trump could target Miguel Díaz-Canel next, and Trump has revived the Monroe Doctrine, labeled the “Donroe Doctrine.” (The Monroe Doctrine was a 19th-century U.S. policy asserting control over the Western Hemisphere.)
The White House issued an order about the reserve in March 2025. It said “The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve will be capitalized with BTC owned by the Department of Treasury that was forfeited as part of criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings.” The order added “the United States will not sell BTC deposited into this Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.” (BTC is bitcoin, a digital currency; the SBR is a government-held stockpile of seized bitcoin.)
Public records show limited tracked Venezuelan state BTC; Forbes reported finding 240 coins in 2022 and no more since. Other accounts offer a far larger figure: a disputed estimate tied to Nicolás Maduro’s government exceeds 600,000 BTC, an assessment described as contested by some analysts.
Cuba sits about 90 miles from Florida and controls key shipping lanes while Hosting the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay. The island previously welcomed Soviet vessels and nuclear assets in its sovereign waters. The Cuban government faces U.S. sanctions and has frozen assets tied to regime members.
Cuba also has a record of crypto engagement and central bank oversight of digital assets, per reporting. If a sudden U.S. takeover uncovered covert holdings, officials could argue those coins are proceeds of crime and should go to the SBR, a claim some lawmakers called dubiously justified.
The U.S. has a long history of interventionist plans toward Cuba, dating from the late 19th century through Cold War operations and CIA attempts to remove Fidel Castro. For tips or more coverage, follow us on X, Bluesky, Google News, and YouTube.
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