Overview
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said sales of seized Bitcoin remain halted and that eligible forfeitures will be deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve after legal resolutions.
- The Department of Justice, via White House advisor Patrick Witt, said the 57.55 BTC from the Samourai Wallet case was not liquidated and will stay in the reserve.
- Earlier on-chain reporting suggested a transfer to a Coinbase Prime address, but the U.S. Marshals Service denied selling the coins as transparency and custody records continue to draw scrutiny.
- Prediction market odds for a formal national Bitcoin reserve rose after Bessent’s comments, with some estimates placing potential holdings at $17–$20 billion, partly from prior law enforcement recoveries.
- Bessent framed the policy within a pro-innovation push to attract digital-asset activity to the U.S., noting a focus on growing the reserve through seizures rather than near-term purchases while budget-neutral options remain under review.