US Transfer of Seized Crypto Raises Questions About Potential Asset Sales

The U.S. government has transferred approximately $288 million worth of seized cryptocurrency to Coinbase Prime, fueling speculation over whether federal authorities are preparing to liquidate some of their digital asset holdings or simply moving them into institutional custody.

According to data from on-chain tracker Arkham cited by Decrypt, the transfers included roughly 3,800 bitcoin valued at about $235 million and approximately 30,000 ether worth $53 million. While large transfers of government-held cryptocurrency often trigger concerns about impending sales, analysts cautioned that the latest activity does not necessarily signal that the assets will soon be sold.

The uncertainty stems from the multiple roles performed by Coinbase Prime, Coinbase’s institutional platform. In addition to providing secure custody services for large investors and institutions, Coinbase Prime also offers trading, financing and transaction execution capabilities. As a result, transferring assets to the platform could represent routine custody management just as easily as preparation for eventual liquidation.

The transfers occurred over roughly half a day and involved assets tied to several criminal investigations. The bitcoin originated from cryptocurrency seized in cases involving convicted dark-web drug dealer Ryan Farace, known online as “Xanaxman,” as well as the defunct BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange. Those funds reportedly passed through intermediary wallets before arriving at Coinbase Prime. The ether originated from a $54 million money laundering case involving former Oracle employee Brian Krewson and was transferred directly to a Coinbase Prime deposit address.

The government has not publicly explained the purpose of the transfers, leaving market participants to interpret the blockchain activity on their own.

Tim Sun, senior researcher at cryptocurrency exchange HashKey, told Decrypt that some investors view the movement as “a signal for a potential sell-off.” However, he emphasized that the transfers could just as easily reflect the government’s decision to consolidate and professionally manage seized digital assets. Sun said it remains unclear whether the funds are being positioned for sale or merely placed into managed custody.

The distinction is significant because the U.S. Marshals Service selected Coinbase Prime in 2024 to provide custody and trading services for forfeited digital assets. Beyond safeguarding cryptocurrency, the platform also assists with financing and transaction staging, making it a logical destination for government-managed assets regardless of whether an immediate sale is planned.

The transfers also come against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s March 2025 executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Under that order, bitcoin placed into the reserve generally may not be sold once it has completed the final forfeiture process, although exceptions exist for court-ordered law enforcement purposes or victim restitution.

According to Sun, the cryptocurrency transferred this week falls outside those restrictions because it originates from active criminal proceedings rather than finally forfeited assets that have entered the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. He told Decrypt that markets should distinguish between bitcoin formally held in the reserve and the government’s broader portfolio of seized digital assets, which remain subject to different legal treatment.

Ethereum is treated differently still. Rather than being covered by the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, ether falls under the government’s separate Digital Asset Stockpile, giving the Treasury Department greater flexibility over how those holdings are managed and potentially disposed of, according to Sun.

The episode also highlights continuing uncertainty surrounding the federal government’s broader cryptocurrency strategy. Although the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was established by executive order, legislation that would codify the reserve and impose a 20-year holding requirement has stalled in Congress. At the same time, Treasury and Commerce officials continue to debate on control over the government’s digital asset holdings.

Against that backdrop, the $288 million transfer represents only a small fraction of the federal government’s cryptocurrency portfolio. Arkham estimates that U.S. government wallets still hold approximately $20.6 billion in digital assets, including more than 324,000 bitcoin, underscoring why even relatively modest transfers continue to attract close scrutiny from investors searching for clues about future government policy toward seized cryptocurrency.