On-Chain Data Shows No Proof DOJ Sold Samourai Wallet Bitcoin Despite Reports

Several crypto media outlets reported on January 5 that the US Department of Justice (DOJ), via the US Marshals Service (USMS), sold approximately 57.55 BTC forfeited from Samourai Wallet co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. These reports suggested the alleged sale may have violated President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14233, which instructs federal agencies to retain forfeited Bitcoin as part of the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

However, a closer examination of publicly available on-chain data tells a more nuanced story. While the Bitcoin was transferred into Coinbase Prime custody, the blockchain does not provide evidence that the BTC was actually sold or liquidated.

On November 3, 2025, roughly 57.553 BTC was sent from a bech32 address linked to the Samourai forfeiture to a wallet labeled as a Coinbase Prime deposit address. Shortly after, the funds were swept into another Coinbase Prime deposit wallet. This type of internal transfer is a routine operational process for custodial platforms like Coinbase Prime and does not, by itself, indicate a market sale.

Further analysis shows the Bitcoin was later consolidated into the broader Coinbase Prime wallet cluster, which contains thousands of addresses used for custody, internal accounting, and settlement. Importantly, at no point does the blockchain show the BTC leaving Coinbase-controlled infrastructure. There are no signs of transfers to non-Coinbase entities, no fragmentation patterns typical of trade execution, and no movement into known exchange settlement wallets associated with completed sales.

It is also critical to note that Bitcoin-to-USD conversions on Coinbase Prime occur off-chain. As a result, blockchain data alone cannot confirm whether a sale took place, whether proceeds were credited to the USMS, or whether the Bitcoin remains held in custody.

Determining whether the DOJ violated Executive Order 14233 requires off-chain documentation, such as court forfeiture orders, USMS asset management records, or Coinbase Prime execution and settlement reports. None of this information is visible on-chain.

In summary, while the forfeited Samourai Wallet Bitcoin was transferred into Coinbase Prime custody, the blockchain does not confirm that it was sold. Claims of a confirmed liquidation go beyond what on-chain data can substantiate, leaving the issue firmly in the realm of governance and official documentation rather than blockchain evidence.