The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is in search of to achieve possession of as much as $15 billion value of BTC, which it seized from a crypto fraud scheme. This would increase the U.S. authorities’s Bitcoin reserves and comes amid the push to ascertain the Strategic BTC reserve.
DOJ Files BTC Forfeiture Order Which Could Boost U.S. Bitcoin Reserves
In a press release, the Department of Justice introduced that it filed a civil forfeiture grievance in opposition to nearly 127,271 BTC, value almost $15 billion, that are a part of the “proceeds and instrumentalities” of a “pig butchering” rip-off. The DOJ additional revealed that these funds are at present within the U.S. authorities’s custody.
Meanwhile, additionally they famous that this marks the biggest forfeiture motion within the DOJ’s historical past. The DOJ seized these funds from Chen Zhi, also referred to as “Vincent,” the founder and chairman of Prince Holding Group (Prince Group), who they’ve charged with wire fraud conspiracy and cash laundering conspiracy.
This forfeiture motion may ultimately increase the U.S. Bitcoin reserves if the court docket grants a forfeiture order. U.S. President Donald Trump has already signed an govt order proposing that the U.S. use confiscated property to type a Strategic BTC reserve.
BitcoinTreasuries knowledge reveals that the U.S. at present holds 198,021 BTC, that are primarily from seizures. As such, a forfeiture order for this $15 billion signifies that the federal government may ultimately maintain as much as 325,292 BTC ($36 billion) in its reserves.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had confirmed in August that the U.S. Bitcoin reserves have been value as much as $20 billion. This adopted earlier speculations that the U.S. had bought most of its BTC holdings.
Meanwhile, this transfer would additionally develop the U.S. lead over different nations when it comes to Bitcoin holdings. The U.S. authorities holds probably the most BTC amongst authorities entities, forward of second-placed China, which has 190,000 BTC.
A BTC Reserve Is The ‘Wisest Thing’ To Do
Notably, this improvement comes amid the push to cross the BUTCOIN Act, which can codify Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin reserve order. Senator Cynthia Lummis, who launched the invoice, immediately famous that BTC’s uniqueness is likely one of the causes the reserve is the “wisest thing” to do to shore up the greenback.
Add this to the explanation why a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is the wisest factor we are able to do to shore up USD. It secures our debt with a tough asset + we are able to audit it to show reserves at any time.
Given its shortage, we are able to additionally use it in 20+ yrs to retire a significant % of US debt. https://t.co/9sI5eUxzCP
— Cynthia Lummis 🦬 (@CynthiaMLummis) October 14, 2025
This adopted Elon Musk’s endorsement of Bitcoin, wherein he famous that Bitcoin relies on power, as anybody can subject pretend fiat foreign money, however that it’s inconceivable to pretend power. Lummis agreed with Musk and acknowledged that the BTC reserve will assist safe their money owed with a tough asset.
She added that they’ll additionally audit it to show the Bitcoin reserves at any time and that, given its shortage, they’ll use it in 20 years to retire a significant proportion of the U.S. debt.
