DOJ Holds, Doesn’t Sell Forfeited Samourai Bitcoin—White House Crypto Advisor Reveals

Federal prosecutors are sitting on a crypto treasure trove. The Department of Justice hasn't liquidated the Bitcoin seized from privacy-focused wallet Samourai—a move that's raising eyebrows across both crypto and traditional finance circles.

The Unmoved Mountain of Digital Gold

Forfeiture typically means a fast-track to government auction. Not this time. The DOJ's decision to hold, not sell, signals a deeper strategic play. It's a pause that speaks volumes—less about asset disposal, more about message-sending.

A Calculated Pause in Enforcement Theater

This isn't just asset management; it's geopolitical theater. Holding the Bitcoin maintains maximum leverage—keeping the value on the government's balance sheet while the legal and regulatory narrative unfolds. Every day they hold, the market watches.

The Regulatory Chessboard

The White House advisor's clarification cuts through the noise. It frames the DOJ's restraint not as indecision, but as deliberate policy—a nod to crypto's maturing role in national strategy. Suddenly, forfeiture looks less like confiscation and more like custody.

Meanwhile, traditional finance still can't decide if Bitcoin is a threat, an asset, or just a spreadsheet they don't understand—classic hedge fund paralysis dressed up as risk management.

The takeaway? When the government holds your Bitcoin instead of selling it, you're not just being prosecuted—you're being studied. And in the high-stakes game of crypto regulation, sometimes the most powerful move is not moving at all.

57.5 BTC Transfer Sparks Questions Over US Government Bitcoin Sales

Questions first surfaced in November after blockchain analysts flagged a transfer of 57.5 BTC from a government-controlled wallet to a Coinbase Prime deposit address.

The movement prompted speculation that US authorities may have sold or planned to sell the funds, drawing criticism from market participants who pointed to Executive Order 14233.

Signed by President Donald TRUMP in March, the order requires that any Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture “shall not be sold” and instead be retained for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Some observers accused the US Marshals Service of violating the directive, allegations now denied following the DOJ clarification.

Public data suggests the US government remains one of the world’s largest Bitcoin holders. Figures from Bitcoin Treasuries show federal authorities control 328,372 BTC, valued at more than $31 billion at current prices.

UPDATE: we have received confirmation from DOJ that the digital assets forfeited by Samourai Wallet have not been liquidated and will not be liquidated, per EO 14233. They will remain on the USG balance sheet as part of the SBR. https://t.co/v2GchC3vk8

That total includes 127,271 BTC forfeited in October from a Cambodia-based entity accused of running a so-called pig-butchering investment scam.

Witt reiterated that expanding the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve remains a policy priority. In a recent interview, he said progress depends on coordination between the Treasury and Commerce departments to address outstanding legal and operational issues.

Legislative efforts are also underway. A bill sponsored by Cynthia Lummis proposes accelerating reserve accumulation, targeting the acquisition of up to 1 million Bitcoin over five years.

The proposal emphasizes budget-neutral methods, with officials saying any accumulation WOULD avoid costs to taxpayers.

Trump Signals Possible Pardon for Samourai Wallet Developer

Two developers behind Samourai Wallet were sentenced to prison in November after prosecutors said the privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet processed more than $237 million in criminal proceeds.

Keonne Rodriguez received a five-year sentence on Nov. 6, while his co-developer, Hill, was sentenced to four years on Nov. 19. Both were also ordered to forfeit roughly $6.3 million in fees earned through the platform.

The case took a political turn in December when Donald Trump said he would consider pardoning Rodriguez.

Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office event on Dec. 16, Trump said he had “heard about it” and instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to review the case.

Rodriguez later welcomed the remarks, arguing on social media that the prosecution reflected “lawfare” and a weaponized Justice Department under the Biden administration.

Trump has previously pardoned Ross Ulbricht and Changpeng Zhao in related crypto cases, and has raised Optimism of a similar pardon for Rodriguez.