White House Crypto Advisor: DOJ Did Not Sell Forfeited Samourai Bitcoin
White House crypto advisor and National Security Council official publicly stated that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) did not sell the bitcoins seized from Samourai Wallet-related investigations. The clarification follows media reports and trader concerns suggesting the DOJ had liquidated forfeited bitcoin holdings. Officials emphasized that the DOJ maintains custody protocols and that any disposition of forfeited crypto follows legal procedures. The announcement aims to reassure markets and privacy-focused crypto users that the government has not executed sales that might affect bitcoin supply or prices. The statement also underscores ongoing scrutiny of how law enforcement handles seized cryptocurrency and highlights the balance between enforcement and market stability.
Neutral
The clarification that the DOJ did not sell forfeited Samourai bitcoin reduces the likelihood of a sudden increase in on-chain supply from a government-driven sell-off, which could have been bearish for BTC. Since no liquidation occurred, immediate downward pressure tied to that specific event is unlikely — hence a neutral market impact. Short-term effects include reduced volatility because a key uncertainty was removed, calming traders who had feared a government dump. Long-term impact is limited: while the statement reassures market participants, broader drivers (macro conditions, regulatory actions, adoption trends) will continue to determine bitcoin’s trajectory. Similar past events (e.g., US government seizures with delayed auction announcements) sometimes caused volatility when sales occurred; preventing a sale here avoids that negative trigger. Overall, traders should monitor further DOJ communications, auction schedules, and legal developments related to seized crypto, but this specific announcement removes an immediate bearish catalyst.