The Bitcoin held by the U.S. Department of Justice has now become a focal point of public opinion.

The incident originated from a privacy wallet case. Samourai Wallet was sued for alleged money laundering and unlicensed remittance services, and the Department of Justice confiscated 57.55 Bitcoins from its founder, valued at over six million USD at the time. These assets were supposed to go through an auction process for liquidation and forfeiture—this is the usual routine for government asset seizures.

The turning point came quickly.

In November last year, rumors circulated within the community that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) might have quietly sold these Bitcoins via Coinbase Prime, with on-chain data showing the related address balance was emptied. Public opinion exploded—wasn't the government being hypocritical?

The official stance was actually clarified earlier. In March 2025, the then-president signed Executive Order No. 14233, explicitly prohibiting the sale of any Bitcoins obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture procedures. These assets must be incorporated into the "U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve," managed centrally by the Treasury Department.

What does this mean? It signifies a shift in government attitude from "asset disposal" to "strategic accumulation." Bitcoin, from being confiscated property, has transformed into a national reserve, with a completely different status. Facing public pressure, officials later clarified that they would strictly enforce this policy—meaning that even if the Bitcoins have already been sold, any subsequent confiscated Bitcoins will never be liquidated again.

This policy shift reflects an interesting phenomenon: the upgrade of the traditional financial system's perception of Bitcoin. From a tool for enforcement to a strategic asset, this transition, although occurring at the government level, sends a clear signal to the entire crypto market.