SEC chair: Seizure of Venezuela’s reported Bitcoin unclear
SEC Chair Paul Atkins said it “remains to be seen” whether U.S. authorities would move to seize Venezuela’s purported Bitcoin holdings, following reports that the country controls as much as $60 billion in BTC.
In a Monday interview with Fox Business host Stuart Varney, Atkins addressed unverified claims that Venezuela holds up to 600,000 BTC. Asked whether the U.S. would “take those Bitcoin off ’em,” he replied, “I leave that to others in the administration to deal with — I’m not involved in that.”
Reports on Venezuela’s Bitcoin reserves emerged after U.S. forces, at the direction of President Donald Trump, captured then-President Nicolás Maduro last week and transferred him to the United States to face criminal charges in New York. As of publication, blockchain analysts and intelligence platforms had not confirmed the alleged $60 billion position. The Maduro government has previously engaged with the sector, including the launch of an oil-backed digital currency in 2018.
Senate Banking Committee to mark up market structure bill on Thursday
Atkins’ comments come days before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to mark up the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, or CLARITY. The House passed the bill in July, and it has been under Senate review for months, a process likely slowed by a 43-day government shutdown in October and November.
Banks and some crypto firms have raised concerns over provisions related to stablecoin rewards in the draft bill, while many Democrats are reportedly seeking stronger ethics safeguards and clearer treatment of decentralized finance.
The legislation could face delays amid campaigning for the 2026 midterm elections and the possibility of another government shutdown at the end of January. Early drafts indicated lawmakers were considering granting the Commodity Futures Trading Commission expanded authority to regulate digital assets.
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