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The recent revelation by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) regarding their alleged “forfeited” Bitcoin stash has sent shockwaves throughout the cryptocurrency community. According to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request fulfilled by independent crypto journalist L0la L33tz, the USMS appears to hold approximately 28,988 BTC as of March 2025.
This staggering figure is far from the estimated $23.5 billion in Bitcoin reserves held by the government, sparking widespread speculation about the true nature and size of these holdings. Some experts have raised concerns that the US has potentially been quietly selling its Bitcoin assets, potentially without transparency or public disclosure.
While the FOIA request only addressed “forfeited” Bitcoin assets transferred to government ownership, many seized coins remain tied to ongoing investigations or legal proceedings, such as those tied to civil forfeiture or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This has led some observers to question whether certain Bitcoin reserves have been quietly liquidated.
The revelation has also sparked debate among crypto enthusiasts and industry experts alike. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a vocal advocate for a national Bitcoin reserve, expressed her concerns about the development in a statement, stating that such an action would be “a total strategic blunder” that sets the United States back years in its development of Bitcoin assets.
It is also possible that the government’s Bitcoin stash has not been sold but rather remains outside of USMS custody. The lack of visible on-chain activity may not necessarily prove or disprove these theories due to potential custodian involvement, noted Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey.
Despite these uncertainties, this recent disclosure has sparked widespread debate about the true nature and size of government-held Bitcoin reserves.
Source: cryptoslate.com
