The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed Friday that the Bitcoin seized in the high-profile Samourai Wallet case has not been sold. Instead, the digital assets will remain on the federal government's books as part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), established under Executive Order 14233.
Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, shared on social media that the DOJ reaffirmed the BTC will be held, not sold, in accordance with the executive order.
The clarification comes after speculation and on-chain observations. Reports showed around $6.3 million worth of Bitcoin associated with the Samourai Wallet seizure had moved, sparking questions about whether it had been sold prematurely. Public records suggest the movement was through a Coinbase Prime custody address, but there is no evidence of a sale.
Executive Order 14233, signed by President Donald Trump in March 2025, directs federal agencies to retain Bitcoin obtained via criminal or civil forfeiture as part of a strategic reserve, instead of selling it. This is a major departure from past practice, where seized BTC was usually sold immediately and converted to cash.
Samourai Wallet Case Background
Samourai Wallet, a privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet, allowed users to enhance transaction anonymity through features like coin mixing. It was created by Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, who were arrested in 2024 and pleaded guilty in July 2025 to running an unlicensed money transfer service linked to the wallet’s mixing feature. Prosecutors said it facilitated illegal transfers.
Both founders received multi-year prison sentences, and as part of their plea deal, they forfeited approximately 57 BTC (~$6.3 million). This seizure is now at the center of debate over how the government handles.#MarketRebound #BTC100kNext? #StrategyBTCPurchase
