The U.S. government formally confirmed that it has not sold and will not liquidate the Bitcoin forfeited in the Samourai Wallet case, pushing back against recent market speculation and misinterpreted on-chain signals.
The clarification follows weeks of debate after blockchain data showed the assets moving to a custodial address associated with Coinbase Prime, sparking concerns that the coins may have entered the market.
Bitcoin Will Remain on Government Balance Sheet
According to officials, the forfeited Bitcoin, approximately 57.55 BTC, valued at around $6.4 million at the time of transfer, will remain under government control.
UPDATE: we have received confirmation from DOJ that the digital assets forfeited by Samourai Wallet have not been liquidated and will not be liquidated, per EO 14233. They will remain on the USG balance sheet as part of the SBR.
— Patrick Witt (@patrickjwitt) January 16, 2026
Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Digital Asset Advisory Committee, confirmed that the assets are now formally held as part of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). This framework treats Bitcoin as a long-term sovereign asset rather than a source of liquidation revenue.
Crucially, officials emphasized that the transfer to Coinbase Prime was strictly custodial, intended for secure storage and compliance, not for sale or market execution.
Executive Order Mandates No Liquidation
The policy is rooted in Executive Order 14233, signed by President Trump in early 2025. The order explicitly states that Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture “shall not be sold.”
This marks a structural shift in how the U.S. government treats seized digital assets. Rather than auctioning or gradually liquidating holdings, forfeited Bitcoin is now retained on the federal balance sheet under a long-term reserve strategy.
Samourai Wallet Case Background
The Bitcoin in question originates from the Samourai Wallet prosecution. In November 2025, the developers of Samourai Wallet were sentenced for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Co-founder Keonne Rodriguez received a five-year sentence, while William Lonergan Hill was sentenced to four years.
In December 2025, President Trump publicly stated that he was “looking into” the possibility of a pardon for the developers, though no formal action has been announced.
Broader Implications for Bitcoin Markets
With this confirmation, the U.S. government disclosed that it now holds an estimated 328,372 BTC, valued at over $31 billion, all subject to the same no-sale policy under the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve framework.
From a market perspective, this removes a major source of uncertainty. Concerns that government-held Bitcoin could quietly enter the market—especially through institutional venues—are now directly contradicted by official policy. Instead, forfeited BTC is being treated as a non-circulating, long-duration asset, effectively reducing potential future sell-side pressure.
The announcement reinforces a clear message: U.S.-held Bitcoin is no longer viewed as inventory to be liquidated, but as a strategic asset intended to remain off the open market.