There is some pretty explosive news recently—SEC Chairman Paul Atkins revealed in a media interview that the US government might seize 600,000 bitcoins reported by Venezuela. However, it should be noted that these figures have not yet been independently verified, and Venezuela claims to hold $60 billion worth of Bitcoin, though the authenticity is still in question.

Speaking of which, the news about Venezuela's Bitcoin holdings seems quite coincidental. Just after US President Trump ordered military action, arrested, and transferred former President Maduro, this story surfaced. It’s worth noting that Maduro’s regime has shown interest in the crypto space, having promoted a digital currency project backed by oil in 2018.

Another noteworthy development is that Atkins’ comments came just before the US Senate Banking Committee was set to review the Clear Markets Act for digital asset regulation. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives back in July but has been delayed in the Senate due to the government shutdown. Given the midterm election campaigns in 2026 and the potential government shutdown risks, the bill’s prospects remain quite uncertain.