White House: Government Has Not Sold Bitcoin Seized From Samourai Wallet Developers

BlockBeats News, January 17th, the White House's top crypto advisor stated that U.S. prosecutors have not liquidated the seized digital assets of Samourai Wallet developers — previously reported that the Bitcoin may have been sold, violating an executive order signed by President Trump.

President's Financial Advisors Committee Executive Director Patrick Witt posted on social media on Friday that he has received a response from the Department of Justice regarding the prosecution of Samourai developers William Lonergan Hill and Keonne Rodriguez. "Update: We have received confirmation from the Department of Justice that, per Executive Order 14233, the seized digital assets of Samourai Wallet have not been and will not be liquidated," Witt wrote in a tweet, "They will be held as part of the government's strategic Bitcoin reserve."

Earlier this month, Bitcoin Magazine cited court documents and data reporting that the U.S. Marshals had sold over $6 million worth of Bitcoin — these Bitcoins were part of the funds Rodriguez and Hill agreed to forfeit to the Department of Justice and were sent to a Coinbase Prime address possibly for sale. If these Bitcoins were sold, it would violate Trump's March executive order establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve.