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Questions are circulating about whether the U.S. Department of Justice sold seized Bitcoin. The discussion centers on 57.55 BTC tied to the Samourai Wallet case. Reports said the U.S. Marshals Service moved the funds through Coinbase Prime in November 2025. President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14233 directs how forfeited Bitcoin should be handled for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. However, no public record has confirmed a completed sale, keeping the matter unresolved.
Samourai Wallet Forfeiture and the 57.55 Bitcoin Transfer
The disputed Bitcoin is linked to Samourai Wallet co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. Reports described the 57.55 BTC as forfeited under a plea-related agreement. They said the U.S. Marshals Service handled the asset movement during the forfeiture process.
On-chain trackers showed that BTC moved into Coinbase Prime-labeled infrastructure on November 3, 2025. The funds were then swept between Coinbase Prime deposit wallets, which is a common exchange custody behavior.
Public blockchain data shows transfers into and within Coinbase-controlled clusters. However, it does not show a clear outbound transfer to an external buyer address.
What Executive Order 14233 Says About the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
Executive Order 14233, dated March 6, 2025, established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under Treasury control. The order describes “Government BTC” as Treasury-held Bitcoin that was finally forfeited. It states that Government BTC deposited into the reserve “shall not be sold.”
The order also sets limits and carve-outs that matter in forfeiture cases. It directs agencies to report qualifying digital assets to Treasury for custody decisions. It also allows dispositions required by law, including court orders and other legal obligations.
As a result, a court-approved liquidation path can still govern specific assets, depending on the case record.
Why Blockchain Data Alone Does Not Prove a Sale
However, reports that argue it’s a sale are pointing to a Coinbase Prime deposit address that later shows a zero balance. On exchanges, a zero balance can reflect routine sweeping into consolidated wallets. It can also reflect internal accounting changes rather than liquidation. That is why the sweep pattern does not establish a trade by itself.
A conversion from Bitcoin to dollars on Coinbase Prime can occur off-chain. Settlement records and USD proceeds sit in brokerage statements and government asset records. Those documents are not visible on the blockchain.
Verifying a sale typically requires court disposition orders, U.S. Marshals’ asset paperwork, or Coinbase Prime execution records. None of that has been publicly produced in a way that settles the claim.
Cynthia Lummis Raises Concerns and Calls for Clarity
Senator Cynthia Lummis publicly criticized reports that the government liquidated the 57.55 BTC. She said seized Bitcoin should be added to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under the executive order. She said, “We can’t afford to squander these strategic assets while other nations are accumulating bitcoin. I’m deeply concerned about this report.”
The debate has also included references to a review inside the administration. Posts attributed to Patrick Witt, described as executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Digital Assets, stated that the situation was being examined. Public reporting has not shown a DOJ filing acknowledging a violation or a court record confirming liquidation after the order took effect.
Amid the US DOJ scrutiny, Bitcoin price continued its recovery in 2026, trading near $91,837 with a 4% weekly gain. BTC rebounded from the $88,000 area and held above the key $90,000 level. The Bitcoin price pulled back from the $94,000 zone, which remains the next major resistance level on this move.
More so, recent Bitcoin news showed large holders increasing exposure while retail traders reduced positions. Santiment said wallets holding 10 to 10,000 BTC added 56,227 BTC since mid-December, a move it linked to a local bottom. The report stated that retail sales growth strengthened, lowering short-term leverage and speculative pressure.
