U.S. Seizes $15 Billion in Bitcoin from Prince Group Scheme

3 mins mins

Key Points:

DOJ seizes 127,271 bitcoins from Cambodia-based Prince Group fraud network.
No other cryptocurrencies identified in this legal action.
$15B Bitcoin forfeiture is largest in U.S. history.

The U.S. government has filed a civil forfeiture lawsuit for 127,271 bitcoins (approx. $15 billion), acquired through fraud and money laundering, now under federal custody, marking the largest in history.

This action underscores the U.S. government’s aggressive stance against cryptocurrency-based financial crimes, highlighting significant legal and market implications for Bitcoin and regulatory practices globally.

DOJ Seizes 127,271 Bitcoins from Fraudulent Network

Approximately 127,271 bitcoins have been seized by U.S. authorities, following a successful legal action targeting leaders of the Prince Group. The DOJ described the operation as a major strike against a criminal enterprise that utilized fraudulent methods to acquire crypto assets. Funds had been moved under U.S. custody, with authorities obtaining the necessary private keys to control them.

Immediate implications include increased scrutiny on crypto transactions linked to illicit activities. The sizable Bitcoin holding could present potential liquidity risks if liquidated, yet there have been no indications of the government proceeding with any sale. U.S. entities are currently prohibited from engaging with the Prince Group due to sanctions.

Market reactions have centered around the scale of this forfeiture. Few key industry leaders, as of this reporting, have publicly commented on the event. A DOJ spokesperson reiterated the commitment to utilizing all available tools to combat crypto-related crimes, stating:

“This indictment and historic forfeiture, the largest in Department history, reflect our commitment to using every tool at our disposal to ensure such crimes do not pay.”

Largest Crypto Asset Forfeiture: Effects on Bitcoin Market

Did you know? Almost surpassing the Silk Road and Bitfinex cases combined, this $15 billion Bitcoin forfeiture by U.S. authorities is the largest in the history of cryptocurrency seizures, reflecting a significant escalation in government intervention.

Bitcoin (BTC) stands with a market cap of approximately $2.25 trillion and a trading volume of $91.89 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. The price recently experienced a 2.38% decline over 24 hours, with a further 7.59% drop over the past week. Bitcoin currently holds a market dominance of 58.65% as of October 14, 2025.

bitcoin-daily-chart-3730 — Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 20:54 UTC on October 14, 2025. *Source: CoinMarketCap*

Insights from Coincu research team suggest that the seizure could trigger heightened regulatory measures and ongoing sanctions. Despite the significant market cap, analysts believe immediate price fluctuations will not mirror the seizure size, given the absence of bulk sell-off activities.

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.