White House: The government has not sold the Bitcoin confiscated from the developer of Samourai Wallet

On January 17, the White House’s top crypto advisor stated that U.S. prosecutors have not liquidated the digital assets confiscated from the developers of Samourai Wallet — reports had previously suggested that Bitcoin may have been sold, which would violate the executive order signed by President Trump. Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Digital Asset Advisory Committee, posted on social media on Friday that he had 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, pursuant to Executive Order No. 14233, the digital assets confiscated from Samourai Wallet have not been liquidated and will not be liquidated,” Witt wrote in a tweet. “They will be retained on the government’s balance sheet as part of a strategic Bitcoin reserve.” Earlier this month, Bitcoin Magazine cited court documents and data reports indicating that the U.S. Marshals Service had sold over $6 million worth of Bitcoin — these Bitcoins were payments made by Rodriguez and Hill as part of plea agreements with the Department of Justice and were sent to a CEX Prime address possibly used for sale. If these Bitcoins are sold, it would violate the executive order signed by Trump in March regarding the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve.