Key Takeaways
- The US Department of Justice is under scrutiny for selling $6.3 million worth of Bitcoin, allegedly defying a presidential executive order.
- The Bitcoin was forfeited from Samourai Wallet, a project known for its privacy-centric features, through a plea deal related to money laundering.
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The DOJ may have breached a federal Bitcoin reserve order by selling roughly $6.3 million in BTC forfeited by the developers of Samourai Wallet, a privacy-focused Bitcoin application.
According to a document obtained by Bitcoin Magazine, the forfeited Bitcoin was sent directly to a Coinbase Prime address on November 3, 2025, bypassing USMS custody. The address now holds a zero balance, suggesting the assets have been sold.
Executive Order 14233, signed under the Trump administration, prohibits the sale of forfeited Bitcoin unless under specific exceptions. Legal experts say none applied in this case, and the liquidation appears discretionary.
The Samourai prosecution originated under the previous administration and was led by the Southern District of New York, which has continued to pursue noncustodial crypto developers despite a 2025 DOJ memo directing otherwise.
President Trump has since signaled support for Rodriguez and is reportedly considering a pardon. Critics say enforcing EO 14233 and halting these prosecutions would show the administration is serious about ending the war on crypto.
