U.S. Department of Justice Holds Seized Samurai Wallet Bitcoins as Strategic Reserves

On January 17, Patrick Witt, the Executive Director of the White House's Digital Asset Advisory Council, announced on platform X that the U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed that the bitcoins seized from the developers of Samurai Wallet have not been sold. According to Executive Order 14233, these seized assets will remain on the U.S. government's balance sheet as part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). Earlier this month, Bitcoin Magazine reported that on November 3, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service seized over $6 million worth of bitcoins from William Lonergan Hill and Kione Rodriguez through a plea bargain.