Roswell, New Mexico—famous for its 1947 UFO incident—has added a new chapter to its quirky history by becoming the first American municipality to publicly establish a Bitcoin reserve. According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, the city's BTC wallet now holds 0.173 BTC, worth roughly $13,312, funded entirely through anonymous public donations.
How the Reserve Was Built
In 2025, the Roswell City Council formally approved a Bitcoin reserve, making it a trailblazer among U.S. local governments. The first donation came on April 29, 2025—3,050,323 satoshis (about 0.0305 BTC, then worth $2,906). Over the next few months, a wave of donations from various wallets, including addresses tied to retail users and platforms like Robinhood, pushed the reserve to 0.173 BTC. Arkham stated on social media: “Roswell, New Mexico now boasts a BTC reserve worth nearly $13,000, consisting entirely of public donations.” The city's Arkham profile even sports an alien mascot avatar—a nod to its extraterrestrial lore.
10-Year HODL Law: Sale Prohibited, Strict Spending Caps
To ensure prudent management, the council enacted regulations forbidding the sale or withdrawal of the Bitcoin for at least 10 years. If the fund ever exceeds $1 million, only up to 21% may be spent annually, with withdrawals limited to once every five years. Funds can only be used for two purposes: helping elderly residents pay water bills and providing disaster relief. Arkham's on-chain data confirms the address has never had any outflows; the reserve's growth comes solely from BTC price appreciation.
Crypto Community Reactions: 'First Alien Bitcoin Reserve'
Roswell's donation-driven BTC stash has become a running joke in blockchain circles, sparking memes and witty commentary. Crypto analyst CoinDelisi noted the irony. Arkham's blog cheekily speculated whether Roswell is now home to “the first alien Bitcoin reserve.” The novelty was further amplified in February 2026, when President Trump ordered declassification of UFO-related documents, and the Pentagon released numerous files and videos in May 2026, reigniting global intrigue around Roswell's blend of crypto and UFO lore.