The U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Under Scrutiny
The United States is facing an unprecedented crisis of confidence in its own management of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). On January 5, 2026, a flurry of reports surfaced alleging that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) liquidated more than 57 BTC—worth roughly six million dollars—seized from Samourai Wallet co‑founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. This move, if verified, directly contravenes President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14233, which explicitly mandates that all forfeited Bitcoin be retained for the SBR.
Executive Order 14233: A Direct Order
Executive Order 14233, signed in 2017, was designed to create a strategic reserve of Bitcoin to safeguard U.S. interests in a digital economy. The order prohibits the sale or transfer of any Bitcoin that has been forfeited, confiscated, or seized by federal authorities. The DOJ’s alleged sale therefore represents a blatant breach of presidential intent and the legal framework that governs federal assets.
The Evidence of a Sale
Three independent sources corroborate the claim:
- beincrypto.com reported that the DOJ, via the USMS, sold 57.55 BTC on January 5.
- thestreet.com uncovered court documents and blockchain evidence indicating a liquidation of the same assets, suggesting a direct conflict with the SBR order.
- cryptopanic.com highlighted the timeline and magnitude of the transaction, underscoring its potential impact on the reserve’s integrity.
These accounts converge on the same conclusion: federal agents acted outside the bounds of the executive mandate.
Market Repercussions
The Bitcoin market itself has not been immune to the shockwaves emanating from this controversy. While Bitcoin’s price has experienced a significant uptick—surpassing the 50‑day moving average and maintaining momentum above $88,000 according to Matrixport—this rally is largely driven by speculation rather than a fundamental shift in supply or demand. The perception that the U.S. is losing control over its own reserve fuels uncertainty among institutional investors who rely on the SBR as a safety net.
Legacy Media’s Role
A separate trend in 2025, as reported by CoinDesk, shows legacy media adopting a more balanced tone toward Bitcoin. However, this neutrality has not translated into a robust defense of the SBR. Instead, mainstream outlets have focused on ancillary concerns such as environmental impact and illicit usage, leaving the core issue of governmental mismanagement largely unexamined. The lack of investigative reporting on the DOJ’s alleged breach exacerbates public mistrust.
Legal and Political Fallout
Should the DOJ’s actions be confirmed, the fallout will be twofold:
- Legal Repercussions: The DOJ could face civil penalties for violating a presidential order, potentially leading to a lawsuit from the Office of the President or the Treasury Department.
- Political Ramifications: The executive branch will likely be pressured to revisit the SBR’s governance structure, possibly prompting a congressional inquiry or a new executive directive to reinforce compliance.
The Bottom Line
The alleged sale of $6 million in Bitcoin forfeited from Samourai Wallet founders is not a minor administrative glitch—it is a direct violation of a presidential executive order that underpins the United States’ strategic digital asset policy. The incident exposes systemic weaknesses in the oversight of federal forfeiture assets and raises urgent questions about the future viability of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. In an era where digital currencies are increasingly entwined with national security, the U.S. must act swiftly to restore confidence, enforce existing mandates, and safeguard its strategic interests.
