US Marshals Deny Selling 57.5 Bitcoin After Court Doc Sparks On-Chain Frenzy

Federal authorities just slammed the brakes on a crypto rumor mill spinning at full tilt.

The On-Chain Whisper Network

It started with a court document and a suspiciously timed blockchain transaction. Observers spotted a movement of 57.5 Bitcoin—a figure that matched a recent forfeiture order—and connected the digital dots. The assumption was instant and widespread: the US Marshals Service had begun its sell-off.

Official Denial, Market Sigh

The Marshals' office shot it down fast. No sale. Not their coins. The statement was a blunt instrument against speculative noise, reminding everyone that not every large wallet move is a government fire sale. It’s a classic case of on-chain sleuthing jumping the gun—though, to be fair, given the track record of state liquidations, the assumption wasn't exactly baseless.

Transparency’s Double-Edged Sword

This episode highlights the crypto ecosystem's hypersensitivity. Public ledgers create unparalleled transparency, but they also feed a rumor culture that can whip markets into a frenzy over unconfirmed data. One wallet, one number, and the narrative writes itself—often before the facts are in. It's the blessing and the curse of living in a fishbowl.

The Takeaway: Verify, Don’t Amplify

For now, the 57.5 Bitcoin in question remains unaccounted for, its movement unrelated to federal action. The lesson? In crypto, correlation on the blockchain is not causation in the real world. The next time a 'government sell-off' trends, maybe take a breath before hitting the sell button—unless, of course, you enjoy giving hedge funds a liquidity discount.

No Bitcoin Sold: USMS

At the center of the controversy is Executive Order 14233, which requires BTC obtained via criminal or civil forfeiture to be preserved as part of a US Strategic BTC Reserve. The reporting suggested the alleged sale clashed with that mandate.

After DL News published its story, however, USMS directly denied that any such sale occurred, also criticizing the reporting process: [The USMS] has not sold the Bitcoin mentioned and it has no idea how Bitcoin Magazine would get that information. But they did not fact check nor contact us for information.”

Furthermore, the US Marshals told DL News that “USMS cryptocurrency liquidations go through a multi-level approval process to ensure only forfeited digital assets that meet the requirements of Section D of Executive Order 14233 are disposed.”

What sparked the confusion in the first place was a document described as an “Asset Liquidation Agreement” and an associated dollar figure—$6,367,139.69—tied to 57.5 BTC that were transferred on Nov. 3, 2025, in connection with the Samourai matter. Separately, on-chain tracking showed the same 57.5 BTC deposited to Coinbase Prime, a pattern that can be consistent with liquidation but “could not prove” a sale by itself.

In the Samourai case, federal authorities arrested developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill in 2024, alleging the service operated as an unlicensed money transmitting business used by criminals. The report at issue centered on BTC that the developers paid to the Department of Justice as part of a guilty plea.

At press time, BTC traded at $89,915.