UK Could Sell $6.27 Billion in Seized Bitcoin to Settle Debts, According to Accounting Firm

• Germany’s 2024 decision to liquidate its 50,000 Bitcoin holdings may serve as a cautionary tale for the UK as giants like the US are considering building Bitcoin reserves.
• The UK’s potential BTC selloff may push it further behind in adopting cryptocurrency as an economic asset.

Accounting giant RSM recently noted that the United Kingdom could potentially sell its Bitcoin, in order to settle debts and improve its economic conditions. As per the data from blockchain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence, the UK government currently holds a total of $6.27 billion worth of Bitcoins, seized primarily from convicted money launderer Jian Wen.

Some of the prosecutors stated that Wen converted the Bitcoins either into cash or property. However, her defense has argued that someone else has masterminded this operation. Amid the UK’s fiscal challenges, insiders have reportedly advised Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to consult experts on the optimal timing to sell BTC to maximize returns for taxpayers, as reported by the Daily Mail. speaking on these developments, Chris Etherington, a partner at accounting firm RSM, said:

There is a strong case for selling the Bitcoin right away. The currency is too volatile, too speculative. Rachel Reeves will be looking at it given the political pressure she is under as she waits for the Office For Budget Responsibility forecasts. Germany cashed in last year. Let’s face it – it is a get out of jail free card for her.

Will the UK Make the Same Mistake As Germany Did With Bitcoin?

Last year, around July 2024, Germany sold off its 50,000 Bitcoins in a very short time period, which were seized by the country’s Federal Criminal Police Office back in 2013, as reported earlier. The German selloff of BTC triggered major price volatility, sending tremors across the crypto market. However, this decision by Germany could cost the country as other big players like the US are mulling to build Bitcoin reserves under the newly elected Trump administration.

Furthermore, as highlighted in our previous article, the UK market woes are, in fact, pushing more Europeans closer to crypto. Thus, selling its BTC at this point could be a mistake that the UK might repent at a later stage. As the United States prepares to build its Bitcoin reserves and cut its debt by half over the next decade or two, the UK lawmakers are looking the opposite.

At least 15 U.S. states are preparing to introduce legislation for a ‘Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,’ signaling a significant policy shift. Arizona is at the forefront, proposing to incorporate Bitcoin into public pension funds to enhance diversification and manage risks, according to our recent analysis.

On the other hand, the chief of the Czech National Bank has also proposed plans to allocate 5% of their 140-billion euro reserves to BTC as part of their diversification strategy, as highlighted in our previous news piece.