A new report by Arkham Intelligence highlights the United Arab Emirates’ rapid rise as a major player in the global cryptocurrency mining sector. According to on-chain data, mining operations with ties to the UAE—especially those associated with the Royal Group—have built up a Bitcoin reserve totaling approximately 6,782 BTC, valued at $453.6 million. These reserves are securely held in wallets controlled by entities linked to the royal family, underlining the nation’s increasing engagement with digital asset markets. Notably, Arkham’s profit calculations focus solely on the difference between production costs and market price, without accounting for energy or operational expenses.
Scale and Strategy of Mining Operations
Data from Arkham reveals that UAE-affiliated mining operations have achieved an average daily output of 4.2 BTC over the past week, demonstrating industrial-level capacity. Most of the mined Bitcoin remains unmoved, with the last significant transfer recorded about four months ago. Unlike countries such as the US or UK, which largely hold Bitcoin seized during law enforcement actions, the UAE’s reserves stem predominantly from domestic mining. This accumulation strategy sets the country apart and fuels a unique trajectory for its digital asset policy.
Crypto Infrastructure and Regional Partnerships
The UAE’s commitment to digital assets can be traced back to 2022, when Citadel Mining—a company based in Abu Dhabi and closely linked to the royal family—launched a major mining facility on Al Reem Island. This move is part of broader regional efforts where state-connected capital is funneled toward digital infrastructure. In 2023, Marathon Digital Holdings joined forces with the Abu Dhabi-based Zero Two to roll out immersive-cooling Bitcoin mining sites with a combined capacity of 250 megawatts—a project described as one of the largest industrial mining initiatives in the region’s history.
Updated Reserve Estimates and Global Comparisons
Arkham Intelligence has recently revised its prior estimates for Bitcoin reserves in the UAE. In August 2025, projections suggested that the country had mined approximately 9,300 BTC, holding onto 6,300 BTC—equating to Bitcoin reserves worth nearly $700 million at the time. According to the latest update, the UAE’s current Bitcoin holdings now represent roughly 0.03% of the total circulating supply. This achievement puts the country among the leading nations in terms of verifiable on-chain digital assets.
Despite the UAE’s notable presence, the United States still holds the largest government-controlled Bitcoin reserves. Recent figures suggest US government wallets hold about 328,000 BTC, most of it sourced from landmark crackdowns on illicit activity, bringing their collective value to an estimated $22 billion.
Abu Dhabi’s ETF Allocations and Portfolio Diversification
Sovereign wealth funds based in Abu Dhabi are not limiting themselves to direct Bitcoin holdings. The latest disclosures show that as of December 31, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF accounted for 12.7 million shares—worth over $630 million—held by these funds. This marks a 46% increase from the 8.7 million shares reported at the end of September. These strategic investments are led by the Mubadala fund, which oversees assets surpassing $330 billion and pursues economic diversification through activity in technology, infrastructure, healthcare, and public markets.
Similarly, Al Warda Investments—a fund under the Abu Dhabi Investment Council—increased its IBIT ETF holdings to 8.22 million shares during the fourth quarter. Traditionally focused on private investments, the fund is showing a growing appetite for publicly-listed Bitcoin ETFs. Collectively, the two Abu Dhabi investment entities are reported to hold over $1.1 billion in IBIT shares as of year’s end, reinforcing their commitment to exposure in the digital asset market.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading just shy of the $66,000 mark.
