Samourai Bitcoin Remains in Strategic Reserve

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that the Bitcoin forfeited by the developers of Samourai Wallet will not be sold off and will continue to be part of the United States’ Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). This information was conveyed by Patrick Witt, the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets.

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin forfeited by Samourai Wallet will be held in the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The DOJ confirmed that these digital assets will not be liquidated.
Samourai developers were implicated in transmitting over $2 billion in illicit funds.
The developers have pleaded guilty and received multi-year prison sentences.
Concerns about the potential liquidation of these assets were addressed and clarified.

The confirmation comes after earlier reports raised doubts about the Department of Justice's handling of the $6.3 million in Bitcoin that was forfeited by Samourai developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill as part of their plea agreement. Witt stated, “UPDATE: we have received confirmation from DOJ that the digital assets forfeited by Samourai Wallet have not been liquidated and will not be liquidated, per EO 14233. They will remain on the USG balance sheet as part of the SBR.”

U.S. prosecutors from the Southern District of New York accused Samourai Wallet of facilitating the movement of over $2 billion in illicit transactions and laundering more than $100 million through various criminal enterprises and fraud schemes. In July 2025, both co-founders, Rodriguez and Hill, pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, leading to their sentencing in November 2025 with lengthy prison terms.

The situation traces back to a November 2025 forfeiture when the developers transferred about 58 BTC to the U.S. Marshals Service. Investigative reports and public filings revealed that these assets were directed to a Coinbase Prime custody account, leading to fears that the Bitcoin might have been sold in violation of Executive Order 14233. This executive order clearly states that Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture must remain on the federal balance sheet and be included in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve rather than being liquidated.

There were speculations suggesting that this transaction could have circumvented direct custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. Some observers highlighted potential patterns in the Southern District of New York, where crypto-related cases, including the prosecution of Samourai Wallet developers, have taken place, along with notable actions against Tornado.

However, it has now been established that the Bitcoin remains in the U.S. government’s balance sheet, and there are no current plans to liquidate these cryptocurrency assets.

Samourai Bitcoin to Stay in Strategic Reserve