Bitcoin Seized in Samourai Case Unsold

DOJ Retains Seized Bitcoin in Strategic Reserve

• The US Department of Justice confirmed that Bitcoin seized from the Samourai Wallet case will not be liquidated.
• Executive Order 14233, signed in March 2025, prohibits the sale of seized Bitcoin, ensuring it remains on the US government’s balance sheet.
• Approximately $6.3 million in Bitcoin was moved from Samourai Wallet to Coinbase Prime, raising concerns about potential violations of EO 14233.
• The assets were forfeited from Samourai Wallet founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, who faced charges related to operating a privacy mixer service.
• The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is managed by the Treasury to hold Bitcoin as a national asset.

The Department of Justice has confirmed that seized Bitcoin from the Samourai Wallet case will remain part of the US government’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, adhering to Executive Order 14233. This ensures that approximately $6.3 million in assets are retained on the government’s balance sheet rather than being sold.