The US government has confirmed that it has not sold Bitcoin seized from Samourai Wallet. The confirmation addresses previous claims that the assets were liquidated in violation of federal policy regarding forfeited digital assets.
Clarification from the US DOJ concerns liquidation claims
Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, the Justice Department said [DOJ] has confirmed that the seized Bitcoin “have not been liquidated and will not be liquidated”.
He added that the assets will remain on the US government’s balance sheet as part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The clarification follows reports earlier this month indicating that prosecutors have been appointed in the Southern District of New York [SDNY] had sold Bitcoin forfeited by developers associated with Samourai Wallet.
The alleged sale may be contradictory Executive Order 14233, which stipulates that forfeited Bitcoin must be retained rather than sold.
According to Witt, the DOJ has confirmed that the forfeited digital assets remain in the possession of the U.S. government and comply with the executive order. The statement directly refutes the claim that Bitcoin had already been liquidated following Samourai’s plea deal.
The DOJ has not publicly detailed its operational handling of the assets, beyond confirming that they will remain on the government’s balance sheet.
However, the confirmation removes uncertainty over whether the seizure resulted in market selling or contributed to recent Bitcoin price movements.
Data about the chain is consistent with the US government statement
Independent blockchain data from Arkham supports the position of the US DOJ. Publicly tracked portfolios associated with US government holdings show no material reduction in Bitcoin balances, consistent with a sale linked to the Samourai case.
Source: Arkham
As of mid-January, on-chain analytics show the US government still holds more than $10 million 328,000 BTCrated at over $31 billionin addition to smaller balances of ether and stablecoins. No abnormal outflows associated with the Samourai forfeiture were observed.
Why the confusion arose
Historically, the US government has sold seized Bitcoin through public auctions, especially in previous cases such as Silk Road.
That precedent shaped the market’s expectations and led to the assumption that the newly forfeited Bitcoin would also be liquidated.
However, Executive Order 14233 represents a policy change, requiring certain seized Bitcoin to be retained as strategic assets rather than sold.
The Samourai case appears to fall under this updated framework, which represents a departure from previous forfeiture practices.
For now, the DOJ’s confirmation settles the question of whether Samourai-related Bitcoin came to market.
Final thoughts
- The DOJ’s confirmation resolves claims that Samourai Wallet-related Bitcoin had been liquidated, reinforcing that the assets will be preserved under current federal policy.
- The episode highlights how old expectations surrounding seized Bitcoin sales continue to clash with the US government’s evolving approach.