Emre Yumlu 
Recent claims suggesting that the United States government has sold confiscated Bitcoin have sparked widespread debate across the crypto market. Reports alleging that seized BTC had been released into circulation raised concerns among investors about potential market impact. However, an official statement from the White House has now decisively addressed these rumors.
Official Confirmation: No Bitcoin Has Been Sold
Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Digital Assets Advisory Committee, publicly confirmed that the allegations are unfounded. According to Witt, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally verified that Bitcoin seized in connection with the Samourai Wallet case has not been sold or liquidated.
Witt emphasized that these digital assets remain under government custody and have not entered any disposal or liquidation process. This clarification directly contradicts earlier speculation that the government had actively moved seized Bitcoin into the market.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Framework
A key element of the clarification relates to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). Witt explained that the confiscated Bitcoin is being managed in accordance with Executive Order 14233, signed by President Donald Trump. This directive instructs federal agencies to retain seized Bitcoin as part of a strategic reserve rather than selling it.
Under this framework, Bitcoin obtained through legal forfeiture is recorded on the US government’s balance sheet and preserved as a long-term strategic asset. Witt reiterated that DOJ confirmation leaves no ambiguity: the Bitcoin linked to the Samourai Wallet case will continue to be held within the SBR structure.
How the Rumors Emerged
The controversy originated on January 5, when several crypto-focused media outlets reported that approximately 57.55 BTC seized from Samourai Wallet co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill had allegedly been sold via the US Marshals Service (USMS). These reports also suggested that such a sale could potentially violate Executive Order 14233.
The absence of immediate official clarification allowed the claims to circulate widely, fueling uncertainty across crypto markets. However, the latest statements have now firmly dispelled those narratives.
Clarity Restored for the Market
With the official denial now on record, it is clear that the US government has not engaged in Bitcoin sales related to this case. Instead, federal agencies are treating seized BTC as a strategic reserve asset with long-term considerations.
This development highlights a broader shift in how governments may approach digital assets—not merely as confiscated property to be liquidated, but as strategic holdings within national financial frameworks. For market participants, the clarification removes a key source of uncertainty and reinforces the importance of verified information in crypto-related policy discussions.
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