2026-01-08 05:24:35

The co-founder of the crypto lending platform Ledn, Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, recently questioned the widespread rumor that the Venezuelan government holds $60 billion worth of Bitcoin.

Di Bartolomeo himself was born and raised in Venezuela, and as a crypto entrepreneur, he knows the local situation well. He pointed out that this rumor lacks credible on-chain evidence to support it.

Regarding the source of the funds, he analyzed three possible channels: the large-scale gold sales in 2018, oil export revenues denominated in Bitcoin, and confiscated mining equipment. It seems somewhat plausible. But the question is—given Venezuela’s history of corruption and management chaos, can they securely store such a large amount of crypto assets?

More importantly, the data doesn’t add up. The Venezuelan central bank’s publicly disclosed total reserves are only about $9.9 billion, and they have never disclosed any Bitcoin holdings. Additionally, the country has long faced severe power crises, making large-scale mining operations almost impossible to sustain.

Considering these practical difficulties and publicly available data, the claim of $60 billion definitely warrants skepticism.

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TokenSleuth

· 01-10 21:31

Haha, $60 billion? Sounds like just another fan circle rumor. Even their central bank doesn't have that much in reserves, and there's no on-chain evidence. This is purely imagination. Venezuela's electricity is almost gone, and they're still mining? Pure nonsense. These kinds of rumors are really annoying. If there's no data, don't make things up. By the way, Di Bartolomeo's comments this time are quite rational, which is rare. Where would they put 600 billion Bitcoins? Under the bed? That's too outrageous, it's obviously another fabricated story.

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quiet_lurker

· 01-10 02:08

60 billion? That's nonsense, you can't find it on the chain at all. By the way, Venezuela's electricity is almost gone, and they're still mining? Di Bartolomeo's analysis this time is still reliable. Locals' words are very convincing. A reserve of 9.9 billion can't be hidden, how could 60 billion be concealed? They really think we're fools. This kind of claim always spreads very widely, but as soon as you poke at it, it leaks.

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ProxyCollector

· 01-09 15:49

600 billion dollars? Just forget about it, what about on-chain evidence --- Venezuela has no $9.9 billion in reserves, where does the 600 billion Bitcoin come from --- Another wild rumor, don’t spread unverified stories --- Can a corrupt government safely store Bitcoin? Get the gold under control first --- Not enough electricity to mine, that logic is amazing --- Now they dare to say anything, just throw out a big number --- So do you really believe this claim? I don’t believe it --- These kinds of rumors have new versions every week, it's quite fantastical

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ApeDegen

· 01-08 11:45

$60 billion? Hmm... No on-chain evidence, I really don't believe it. Di Bartolomeo makes a good point; Venezuela's electricity situation makes mining a nightmare. Wait, the central bank's reserves are only $9.9 billion... So where did the $60 billion come from? Honestly, these rumors are just hype; without on-chain data, it's all just paper tigers. The Venezuelan government can barely manage the country, let alone custody BTC? Don't make me laugh. The era of exchanging oil for BTC is long gone; now it's all just storytelling.

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FrontRunFighter

· 01-08 05:52

Nah, this $60B Bitcoin stash story smells like total fiction... zero on-chain proof, the central bank reserves are only $9.9 billion, the numbers don't add up. Venezuela's power grid has collapsed, yet they're still mining? Wake up, everyone.

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ETHReserveBank

· 01-08 05:51

Haha, this is a joke. $60 billion stored in Venezuela? They don't even have stable electricity. --- On-chain, there's simply no way to verify; it's just pure FOMO rumors. --- The details in the central bank accounts don't match; how can anyone believe these numbers? --- A corrupt government can’t possibly manage that much? I don't believe it. --- Even with an electricity crisis, they still want to mine? That's hilarious. --- Another wave of baseless stories, spreading rumors without any evidence. --- The actual reserves are only $9.9 billion, claiming they have $60 billion worth of Bitcoin—does that logic even hold? --- Venezuela's own officials haven't even acknowledged it; people just believe rumors. --- These rumors are completely rotten; I’ve thought they were unreliable for a long time. --- Di Bartolomeo is right; without on-chain evidence to support it.

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ForkThisDAO

· 01-08 05:48

60 billion? Laughing out loud, Venezuela's electricity is almost gone and they're still mining.

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OnChainSleuth

· 01-08 05:45

Haha, you're right. The number 60 billion sounds outrageous. --- The Venezuelan government can't even manage its own country, and now they want to secretly accumulate Bitcoin? --- It's impossible to trace on-chain, what does that mean? --- The central bank's reserves are only 9.9 billion, how could they possibly hide 60 billion worth of BTC? That logic doesn't add up. --- With the power crisis like this, who will maintain the mining equipment? Even when telling stories, basic logic should be followed. --- Local residents coming out to debunk rumors are the most convincing; the key is that there is indeed no on-chain evidence. --- These kinds of rumors are the most annoying, always trying to deify a country's holdings, causing panic among people. --- A central bank reserve of 9.9 billion compared to 60 billion in Bitcoin? That's close enough.

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DiamondHands

· 01-08 05:39

Venezuela 60 billion BTC? Come on, the central bank only has $9.9 billion in reserves. --- No evidence on the blockchain, yet they dare to spread rumors. This routine is all too familiar. --- Almost out of electricity and still mining? Wake up, everyone. --- Honestly, these numbers are ridiculous. Can a corrupt regime keep them safe? I don’t buy it. --- Di Bartolomeo makes a lot of sense. Local people’s words carry weight. --- 600 billion... Why do I find it hard to believe? Feels like another clickbait. --- Gold sales, oil revenue, confiscated mining rigs? They’d have to make the story perfectly rounded, friends. --- If Venezuela really had that much BTC, it would have been exposed long ago. They simply can’t hide it. --- Another story that no one can verify on-chain. Old story. --- The central bank reserves are so small, yet they hold 600 billion BTC? Math really is well taught.

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BottomMisser

· 01-08 05:34

$60 billion? That number sounds outrageous. The Central Bank of Venezuela only has $9.9 billion in reserves and is still playing with Bitcoin.

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