U.S. Government Denies Sale of Forfeited Samourai Wallet Bitcoin, Says BTC Will Remain in Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
The U.S. government denied reports that bitcoin forfeited from Samourai Wallet developers was sold, confirming it will remain in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.Summary
Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, confirmed via X that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not liquidated and will not liquidate the bitcoin forfeited from the Samourai Wallet developers, contrary to recent reports. This digital asset will instead be retained on the U.S. government’s balance sheet as part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR).
This clarification addresses earlier reporting by Bitcoin Magazine that suggested approximately 57.55 bitcoin, valued around $6.3 million at the time, might have been sold in November 2025 via Coinbase Prime, based on an Asset Liquidation Agreement and on-chain data.
The retention of the bitcoin aligns with Executive Order 14233, which mandates that bitcoin acquired through forfeiture must not be sold but retained as part of the SBR, reversing the prior practice of liquidating seized crypto. The Samourai Wallet case remains significant due to the forfeiture issue and broader concerns over the prosecution of noncustodial software developers.
(Source：Bitcoin Magazine)