8/106 sources · 4 publishersUpdated Oct 8, 19:17 UTC
U.S. government transfers $1 billion in seized Bitcoin to new wallets
On October 8, 2026 the United States moved 12,267 BTC, worth about $1.01 billion, from a wallet linked to the 2016 Bitfinex hack to two new, unlabeled addresses. The transfer did not involve an exchange deposit, suggesting a reshuffling rather than a sale. The move follows earlier transfers of seized crypto to Coinbase Prime and comes under a 2025 executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Why it matters
The Treasury and Justice departments have not explained the transfer, so investors cannot assume the Bitcoin has been sold; the move may simply reflect custody or administrative reallocation, according to the material (2).
Key facts
- 112,267 Bitcoin were transferred, valued at $1.01 billion at the time of the move. coindesk.com
- 2The Bitcoin originated from a wallet tied to the 2016 Bitfinex hack. cointelegraph.com
- 3No exchange deposit was recorded for the transferred Bitcoin. coindesk.com
- 4The U.S. government holds about $25.5 billion in crypto, according to Arkham Intelligence. coindesk.com
- 5The executive order of March 6, 2025 directs forfeited Bitcoin to a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and prohibits its sale. finance.yahoo.com
- 6Bitcoin was trading around $82,500 at the time of the transfer. finance.yahoo.com
Open questions
- Different sources report varying total government-held Bitcoin amounts: 328,372 BTC (1), about $25.5 billion worth (2), and 306,795 BTC (4,6).
Summary written by AlphAI from 6 of 6 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.