A significant development has emerged regarding the Bitcoin seized from the creators of the crypto mixing service Samourai Wallet. The White House has confirmed that these digital assets will not be liquidated but will instead be incorporated into President Trump”s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
In a recent statement, Patrick Witt, the executive director of the President”s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, affirmed that the Bitcoin forfeited by the Samourai Wallet developers has not been sold. Witt shared this information on X, providing clarity amid circulating rumors about potential liquidation. “We have received confirmation from DOJ that the digital assets forfeited by Samourai Wallet have not been liquidated and will not be liquidated,” he noted.
Concerns about a possible sale arose last month when family and legal representatives of the incarcerated co-founders indicated that certain Department of Justice attorneys were considering liquidating the funds. Such an action would violate Executive Order 14233, which was enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump in March 2025. This order stipulates that any Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture must be retained and added to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The developers of Samourai Wallet, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, faced legal consequences last year, pleading guilty to conspiracy charges related to their operations in the unlicensed money-transmitting business. Prosecutors highlighted that their service was instrumental in laundering over $200 million in illicit funds. Following their guilty pleas, Rodriguez received a five-year prison sentence, while Hill was sentenced to four years due to his advanced age and autism diagnosis.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Development
Patrick Witt also emphasized that establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve remains a top priority for the government. He noted that the administration intends to act swiftly as soon as the U.S. Treasury and Commerce agencies come to a consensus on the legal requirements involved. Additionally, pro-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis has sponsored a bill aimed at expediting the process of accumulating 1 million Bitcoin over five years.
Furthermore, the U.S. government has expressed its strategy to acquire Bitcoin through budget-neutral methods, ensuring no new taxpayer money is spent. By utilizing confiscated assets, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve reinforces Bitcoin”s status in modern financial strategies, reflecting how institutions increasingly value and integrate this cryptocurrency into the global financial ecosystem.
As it stands, the U.S. government currently holds 328,372 Bitcoin, valued at over $31.7 billion at current market prices, underscoring its significant role in the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency and national financial policies.
