US Digital Asset Advisory Council chief: "Bitcoin (BTC) seized from Samourai Wallet has not been sold yet"

Patrick Witt, secretary-general (chief) of the White House advisory council on digital assets (cryptocurrencies), said the US government has not sold the Bitcoin (BTC) seized from Samourai Wallet.

On the 16th (local time), Witt wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) that "after confirming directly with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the US government has not yet disposed of the digital assets seized from Samourai Wallet and will not sell them going forward in accordance with the executive order." He added that "the assets will continue to be recorded on the US government's balance sheet as part of the SBR (Special Blockchain Reserve)."

Previously, some outlets including Bitcoin Magazine reported that the US Marshals Service (USMS) had already sold 57.55 BTC seized from Samourai Wallet. After the report, pro-digital-asset US Senator Cynthia Lummis voiced concern, saying that "it would be a serious problem if the US government liquidated the Bitcoin it seized."

Witt’s remarks appear to have cooled the controversy over whether the Samourai Wallet-seized assets were sold, but debate is likely to continue for the time being over standards for managing and disposing of digital assets held by the government.