Sell ​​or hold? Brazil chooses a strategy opposite to the US for managing seized cryptocurrencies

Brazil implemented Law 15.358 to transform seized crypto assets into operational security resources, contrasting with the United States' view, which projects these assets as a long-term strategic reserve of value.

While the United States government consolidated its "no sale" stance in 2025 through the Executive Order that establishes the Bitcoin Strategic ReserveBrazil has taken the opposite path this March 2026. 

Through the recent approval of the Law No. 15.358The South American giant has formalized a mechanism whereby digital assets seized from criminal organizations will not be tied up in bureaucratic processes, but will instead be transformed into liquid resources. This means the country has chosen an approach that prioritizes the immediate operational use of seized funds to finance the purchase of patrol vehicles, the development of cutting-edge technology, and the strengthening of the police's tactical capabilities.

Brazil's decision contrasts with the approach in the northern hemisphere, where the United States has taken a different direction under a state-led vision that perceives Bitcoin and other digital assets as a component of national heritage. 

As this media outlet has reported, the US administration, through executive orders signed in 2025, seeks to consolidate the seized assets not as a cash flow for current expenses, but as the cornerstone of a national strategic reserve with the potential to strengthen its leadership and development. 

Brazil uses cryptocurrencies as an engine for public security

Law No. 15.358 This represents a paradigm shift in the management of seized assets in Brazil. The regulations stipulate that any digital asset linked to illicit activities can be considered an instrument of crime, facilitating its seizure and subsequent reuse by the State. The distinctive feature of this model is its focus on operational efficiency.

Under judicial supervision, Brazilian security forces can access these funds for:

• Police re-equipment, such as the acquisition of vehicles, weaponry and communication systems.
• Technical training, for specialized training for agents in tracking transactions on the blockchain.
• Y special operations, such as the funding of high-impact missions against money laundering and organized crime.

The passage of this law comes as a direct response to the increased use of cryptocurrencies in illicit financial schemes in Brazil, a trend highlighted by cases such as Operation Lusocoin. With this approach, the State transforms seized assets into a concrete tool to strengthen its own capacity to act. 

Under this law, each confiscated asset becomes part of the public effort to reduce the economic influence of criminal groups and strengthen both the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies and the institutional structure responsible for maintaining order and security in the country.

The US view: Bitcoin as a reserve asset

In contrast to Brazil's pursuit of immediate liquidity, the United States has charted a course toward institutional accumulation to strengthen its position in the global economy. Since the beginning of 2025, the federal government has been moving forward with the creation of a National Digital Asset Reserve, a project that marks a radical transformation in the management of cryptocurrencies within the country's financial system.

The US approach is based on the premise that cryptocurrencies are a form of "digital gold." By holding these assets over time, the country aims for long-term appreciation and to secure a leading position in the new global financial architecture. To coordinate this vision, a Cryptocurrency Advisory Council has been established at the White House, tasked with designing the regulatory framework that will allow these assets to be integrated into the country's reserves, alongside gold and traditional foreign currencies.

“My Administration’s policy is to support the growth and responsible use of digital assets, blockchain technology and related technologies across all sectors of the economy.”, said Trump in the executive order.

In summary, unlike Brazil, the US strategy seeks to consolidate technological and financial solvency that projects economic power in the coming decades, even prohibiting the creation of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) to prioritize the existing ecosystem of decentralized assets.