Professional-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis has raised contemporary issues over how the U.S. authorities is dealing with forfeited Bitcoin.
On Tuesday, Bitcoin Journal reported that the Division of Justice (DOJ) might have bought Bitcoins linked to the Samourai Pockets case. In keeping with the report, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) offloaded roughly $6.3 million value of Bitcoin on behalf of the DOJ.
For context, Samourai Pockets builders William Lonergan Hill and Keonne Rodriguez forfeited roughly 57.55 BTC to the federal government as a part of a plea settlement reached in November 2025. Reasonably than holding the property in authorities custody, authorities routed the Bitcoin on to a Coinbase Prime deal with.
Sometimes, transfers to exchange-linked addresses sign an imminent sale. In keeping with this assumption, on-chain knowledge from Arkham exhibits that the Coinbase Prime deal with at the moment holds a zero stability, indicating that the Bitcoin was bought nearly instantly after the switch.
Senator Lummis Questions Latest Authorities Bitcoin Sale
The event sparked issues amongst Bitcoin proponents, with Senator Lummis questioning why federal businesses proceed to promote BTC in violation of President Donald Trump’s directive.
Notably, the U.S. President signed an government order final 12 months directing that forfeited BTC be retained as a part of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). Following experiences of gross sales, Senator Lummis warned that the U.S. dangers undermining its long-term strategic place by squandering its forfeited Bitcoins, whereas different international locations are actively accumulating the asset.
US’ SBR Initiative
Earlier than the election, Trump disclosed plans to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for the USA. Notably, Lummis additionally supported this plan by drafting a invoice that requires the federal government to carry 1 million BTC for not less than 20 years.
Following Trump’s inauguration, he signed an government order to arrange a Bitcoin reserve that won’t value taxpayers a dime. The directive stipulated that the reserve might be funded with property forfeited by way of felony or civil proceedings.
A Violation of Trump’s Govt Order?
Nevertheless, the reported sale of Samourai Pockets’s forfeited BTC might have violated the chief order. The report cited feedback from a authorized analyst who emphasised that neither the forfeiture statutes beneath 18 U.S.C. § 982 nor associated provisions require forfeited property to be transformed into money. As an alternative, the regulation permits the federal government to carry property in variety, aligning with the chief order’s intent to deal with Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset moderately than a legal responsibility to be disposed of.
In the meantime, regardless of the DOJ’s reported sale, the U.S. authorities nonetheless holds a considerable quantity of BTC. In keeping with Arkham, the federal government has round 328,372 BTC, valued at roughly $30.8 billion.
DisClamier: This content material is informational and shouldn’t be thought of monetary recommendation. The views expressed on this article might embrace the writer’s private opinions and don’t replicate The Crypto Primary opinion. Readers are inspired to do thorough analysis earlier than making any funding choices. The Crypto Primary will not be accountable for any monetary losses.
