Taiwan ranks 8th worldwide in government Bitcoin holdings derived from law enforcement activities

Source: Yellow Original Title: Taiwan Ranks 8th Worldwide in Government Bitcoin Holdings from Law Enforcement

Original Link: Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice revealed it holds 210.45 Bitcoin (BTC) seized in criminal cases as of October 31.

Legislator Ko Ju-Chun disclosed the figure on December 18, noting that these holdings could place Taiwan in eighth position globally among governments with Bitcoin.

The revelation comes as Taiwan debates whether to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve using confiscated cryptocurrencies.

What happened

Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice confirmed it possesses 210.45 BTC, worth approximately $18 million at current prices.

Ko Ju-Chun, co-chair of the US–Taiwan Caucus, requested the disclosure as part of legislative investigations.

Bitcoin accounts for only a portion of Taiwan’s seized cryptocurrencies.

Confiscated digital assets exceed NT$1.3 billion, including 17.46 million USDT and 2,429 Ethereum (ETH).

Authorities have not announced plans to liquidate the seized Bitcoin.

The holdings stem from Taiwan’s crackdown on cryptocurrency-related crime.

In August, prosecutors charged 14 individuals in the BitShine exchange case for defrauding 1,539 victims out of NT$1.27 billion between January 2024 and April 2025.

In early November, Taipei prosecutors detained 25 people and confiscated NT$4.5 billion in assets linked to Cambodia’s Prince Holding Group.

It is alleged that the group operated forced labor camps involved in cryptocurrency scams.

Why it matters

Taiwan’s disclosure places it among governments that hold Bitcoin through law enforcement actions rather than strategic acquisitions.

The Taiwanese government promised to publish a feasibility report before the end of 2025 analyzing the potential to convert seized assets into strategic reserves.

Ko Ju-Chun has advocated for Taiwan to consider Bitcoin as part of its national reserves.

Any strategic reserve proposal would require legislative approval and coordination among multiple agencies.

Taiwan’s central bank has also pushed for stricter oversight of stablecoins, seeking authority to supervise issuers.

The Virtual Asset Services Bill from the Financial Supervisory Commission passed its initial cabinet review.

Taiwan’s approach differs from El Salvador’s strategy, as it focuses on managing confiscations from law enforcement rather than market purchases.