U.S. Government Moves $1 Billion in Bitcoin From Bitfinex Hack Wallet; No Sale Indicated
Government-linked wallets shuffle 12,267 BTC
Wallets linked to the U.S. government moved 12,267 bitcoin (BTC), worth about $1.01 billion, on Thursday, according to blockchain intelligence firm Arkham. The coins came from a wallet holding funds seized after the 2016 Bitfinex hack and were sent to new, unlabeled addresses. No deposit to an exchange was recorded, a pattern that points to wallet reshuffling rather than a sale.
Key numbers
- 12,267 BTC (~$1.01 billion) moved Thursday from a Bitfinex hack seizure wallet to unlabeled addresses
- About 3,200 BTC (~$264 million) and $119 million in USDT were deposited to Coinbase Prime a day earlier
- U.S. government still holds roughly $25.5 billion in crypto, per Arkham
Recent exchange deposits add context
The latest transfer follows heavier movement toward exchanges 24 hours earlier, when roughly 3,200 BTC and $119 million in USDT reached Coinbase Prime deposit addresses. Those funds came from wallets tied to both the FTX/Alameda and Bitfinex seizures, according to Arkham's identification.
CoinDesk previously reported that more than $100 million in BTC and BNB moved similarly on Wednesday. In July, about $288 million in seized bitcoin and ether was routed to Coinbase Prime via fresh intermediary wallets.
Deposits to Coinbase Prime do not necessarily indicate a sale, since the platform also provides custody services for institutional clients.
What the 2025 executive order says
A March 2025 executive order directed that forfeited bitcoin be placed into a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and said it should not be sold. The government's recent movements have not contradicted that directive, as no sales have been confirmed.
What is still unclear
It remains unclear whether the government's wallet reshuffling signals an upcoming sale, a routine reorganization of seized assets, or something else entirely. Arkham's data identifies the wallets and values but does not explain the government's motive for these transfers.
Why this matters for crypto markets
Movements of seized bitcoin by the U.S. government often draw market attention because large sales could increase selling pressure on bitcoin. So far, the government has not confirmed any sales from these wallets, but the proximity of exchange-bound deposits to the latest reshuffle has kept observers watching closely.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.