The U.S. government has been actively selling Bitcoin seized during criminal investigations, particularly those tied to the infamous Silk Road darknet marketplace. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to proceed with the sale of 69,370 BTC worth approximately $4.4 billion. This Bitcoin was confiscated from a hacker known as "Individual X," who had stolen it from the Silk Road platform.
In 2023, the government sold around 10,000 BTC from these holdings, earning about $216 million. More recently, reports indicate the government has been preparing to liquidate an additional 30,000 BTC. These sales are managed by the U.S. Marshals Service, which has historically sold nearly 195,000 BTC, adhering to its mandate to liquidate seized assets.
These moves are part of a broader strategy, with some advocating that such seized funds should be retained as a "strategic Bitcoin reserve." However, the government has chosen to sell them to comply with asset liquidation policies.
