DOJ confirms seized Bitcoin from Samourai Wallet case has not been sold
The DOJ confirmed seized Bitcoin from the Samourai Wallet case will remain in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, not be sold per EO 14233.Summary
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that Bitcoin seized in the Samourai Wallet case will not be liquidated but will be held as part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, stated this decision adheres to Executive Order 14233, signed by President Trump in March 2025, which prohibits government agencies from selling seized Bitcoin.
This confirmation addressed recent market concerns after on-chain analysts noticed about $6.3 million in Bitcoin moving from the Samourai Wallet address to Coinbase Prime, suggesting a potential sale. The forfeited assets, roughly 57 BTC, originated from the prosecution of Samourai Wallet founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill for operating a privacy mixer service.
The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is managed by the Treasury and represents a shift in government strategy to maintain seized Bitcoin as a permanent national asset, contrasting with previous administrations that auctioned such crypto.
(Source：Crypto Briefing)