US Government Sells Forfeited Bitcoin Via Coinbase

3 mins mins

Key Points:

US Marshals liquidate 57.55 BTC seized in Samourai Wallet case.
Liquidation may breach Executive Order 14233’s mandate on BTC use.
No government feedback on potential order violation.

The U.S. Department of Justice ordered the sale of 57.55 bitcoins via Coinbase Prime on November 3, 2025, potentially conflicting with Executive Order 14233.

This action could challenge government protocols, impacting regulatory practices surrounding forfeited cryptocurrency assets and raising questions about compliance with existing executive mandates.

US Marshals Dispose of 57.55 BTC Despite Restrictions

In November 2025, Samourai Wallet developers, Keonne Rodriguez and William “Bill” Lonergan Hill, agreed to forfeit 57.55 BTC as part of a plea deal in a conspiracy case. The U.S. Department of Justice instructed the U.S. Marshals Service to sell the assets via Coinbase Prime. This decision followed previous concerns about illegal Bitcoin transactions through the wallet, allegedly involving considerable sums.

The sale may violate Executive Order 14233 from the previous administration, which directed such Bitcoins to be deposited into a National Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. While the assets have been liquidated, the move has been scrutinized, particularly given the order’s ongoing restrictions on government-held crypto assets. There are no direct quotes available from the main individuals involved in the Samourai Wallet case or related government officials in the provided excerpts. If you’re looking for specific statements or reactions from industry leaders or regulatory bodies regarding the Samourai Wallet situation, those are not included in the text. It mainly focuses on the legal proceedings and outcomes.

Official feedback from the U.S. government regarding a possible breach of protocol is still pending. Discussions continue within legal and tech communities about the implications and legality of the DOJ’s actions under existing crypto-related directives.

Bitcoin Price Trends Amid Controversial Government Sale

Did you know? Executive Order mandates requiring forfeited government Bitcoin to be reserved rather than sold have rarely been overturned or bypassed in recent years, making this case a unique discussion point among legal scholars.

According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin (BTC) is currently priced at $93,900.54 with a market cap of $1.88 trillion and a market dominance of 58.37%. Recent movements include a 0.82% 24-hour increase and a 7.65% rise over the past week. The BTC supply stands at 19,972,087 against a 21 million cap.

bitcoin-daily-chart-5450 — Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 01:48 UTC on January 6, 2026. *Source: CoinMarketCap*

Bitcoin’s 60-day and 90-day performance has seen declines of 7.02% and 22.98%, respectively. These fluctuations highlight ongoing volatility, with financial analysts noting that market sentiment remains impacted by both macroeconomic factors and regulatory changes.

According to Coincu’s research team, the sale’s ramifications could affect how executive orders and regulatory guidance impact cryptocurrency management by state bodies. It raises significant issues within both financial and regulatory frameworks on handling future forfeitures.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.