- Reports claiming the U.S. sold Samourai Wallet bitcoin sparked confusion across the crypto community.
- Executive Order 14233 requires forfeited Bitcoin to be held, not liquidated by agencies.
- U.S. officials confirmed the Samourai Wallet bitcoin remains on the government’s balance sheet.
Confusion spread in the first week of 2026 after online reports claimed the U.S. government had quietly sold bitcoin linked to the Samourai Wallet case. Those claims triggered debate as a recent executive order restricted what agencies can do with forfeited bitcoin. Officials now say those reports were inaccurate.
What Sparked the Confusion?
The discussion began after claims surfaced that U.S. authorities had sold itcoin forfeited by Samourai Wallet developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill as part of a plea agreement. The amount involved was estimated at around $6.3 million.
If true, such a sale would have conflicted with Executive Order 14233, which requires forfeited Bitcoin to be held by the government rather than liquidated.
Why Executive Order 14233 Is Important
Executive Order 14233 changed how the U.S. government treats Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture. Under the order:
- Forfeited Bitcoin is classified as “Government BTC”
- These assets must not be sold
- They are to be held as part of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
This marked a shift away from the long-standing practice of routinely auctioning seized digital assets.
Did Any Bitcoin Actually Get Sold?
According to officials, no. After the claims gained traction, Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, said the matter was being reviewed. He later confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice had verified the Bitcoin forfeited in the Samourai Wallet case was not liquidated and will not be sold.
Related: Utah Man Gets 3 Years of Prison Sentence for $2.9M Crypto Investor Fraud
Where the Bitcoin Is Now
Officials say the assets remain on the U.S. government’s balance sheet and will be retained under the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve framework. This applies even to the forfeited Bitcoin under federal laws related to an unlicensed money transmission business.
Legal sources note that the forfeiture statutes used in the case place the bitcoin squarely within the executive order’s definition of “Government BTC.”
The clarification shows federal agencies are aligning more closely with the administration’s digital asset policy. It also highlights a broader shift in how bitcoin is viewed at the federal level, not as an asset to quickly sell, but as one to strategically hold.
Related: South Korea’s New Rules Could Cut Traders Off From Binance and OKX Crypto Apps
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Source: https://coinedition.com/us-government-says-it-has-not-sold-bitcoin-forfeited-in-samourai-wallet-case/
