U.S. government confirms it did not sell Bitcoin seized from Samourai Wallet

The U.S. government has confirmed that it did not sell Bitcoin seized from Samourai Wallet. The confirmation addresses earlier claims that the assets had been liquidated in violation of federal policy governing forfeited digital assets.

U.S. DOJ clarification addresses liquidation claims

Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, said the Department of Justice [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 U.S. government’s balance sheet as part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

The clarification follows reports earlier this month suggesting that prosecutors in the Southern District of New York [SDNY] had sold Bitcoin forfeited by developers associated with Samourai Wallet. 

The alleged sale potentially contradicts Executive Order 14233, which mandates that forfeited Bitcoin be retained rather than sold.

According to Witt, the DOJ confirmed that the forfeited digital assets remain in the U.S. government’s possession and comply with the executive order. The statement directly counters claims that the Bitcoin had already been liquidated following the Samourai plea agreement.

The DOJ has not publicly detailed operational handling of the assets beyond confirming they remain on the government’s balance sheet. 

However, the confirmation removes uncertainty around whether the seizure resulted in market sales or contributed to recent Bitcoin price movements.

On-chain data aligns with U.S. government statement

Independent blockchain data from Arkham supports the U.S. DOJ’s position. Publicly tracked wallets associated with U.S. government holdings show no material reduction in Bitcoin balances consistent with a sale linked to the Samourai case.

As of mid-January, on-chain analytics indicate the U.S. government continues to hold more than 328,000 BTC, valued at over $31 billion, alongside smaller balances of ether and stablecoins. No abnormal outflows tied to the Samourai forfeiture have been observed.

Why the confusion emerged

Historically, the U.S. government has sold seized Bitcoin through public auctions, particularly in earlier cases such as Silk Road.

That precedent shaped market expectations and led to the assumption that newly forfeited Bitcoin would also be liquidated.

However, Executive Order 14233 represents a policy shift, requiring certain seized Bitcoin to be retained as a strategic asset rather than sold.

The Samourai case appears to fall under this updated framework, marking a departure from earlier forfeiture practices.

For now, the DOJ’s confirmation closes the question of whether Samourai-related Bitcoin entered the market.

Final Thoughts

• The DOJ’s confirmation resolves claims that Samourai Wallet–related Bitcoin had been liquidated, reinforcing that the assets remain held under current federal policy.
• The episode highlights how legacy expectations around seized Bitcoin sales continue to clash with the U.S. government’s evolving approach.