U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a outstanding Bitcoin advocate and co-sponsor of the BITCOIN Act proposing a strategic Bitcoin reserve, expressed sturdy concern over a current BTC promote by the U.S. authorities. The BTC seized from the Samourai Wallet founders must be added to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, as per an government order.
Senator Cynthia Lummis Criticizes US DOJ Bitcoin Liquidation
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), appearing below an order from the Department of Justice (DOJ), reportedly liquidated 57.55 BTC valued at $6.3 million. These property have been forfeited by Samourai Wallet founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill as a part of their plea settlement.
Senator Cynthia Lummis expressed important concern concerning the U.S. authorities’s sale of $6.3 million in Bitcoin, regardless of a presidential order directing that seized Bitcoin be added to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
“We can’t afford to squander these strategic assets while other nations are accumulating bitcoin. I’m deeply concerned about this report,” Lummis stated.
This motion is alleged to violate President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14233. The government order mandates that Bitcoin acquired via prison or civil asset forfeiture proceedings should be held as a part of the United States’ Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR).
This state of affairs additionally raises questions concerning whether or not the Department of Justice has ordered Bitcoin liquidations in different circumstances. Senator Lummis argued that promoting seized Bitcoin undermines efforts to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, significantly as international locations comparable to China and others are accumulating seized Bitcoin.
Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, confirmed that the Trump administration is investigating the potential violation of the manager order.
We are wanting into this. https://t.co/qDcvC3bTML
— Patrick Witt (@patrickjwitt) January 6, 2026
On-Chain Data Shows Bitcoin Moved to Coinbase
According to Arkham knowledge, defendants Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill transferred $6.36 million in Bitcoin to the USMS pockets 3Lz5U on November 3, 2025. Bitcoin despatched from handle bc1q4 possible didn’t stay in direct custody of the USMS.
The funds have been then transferred from the 3Lz5U handle to a different pockets labeled Coinbase Prime Deposit (1AaFQ). Arkham Intel attributes this handle to the brokerage, suggesting the property have been supposed on the market. The Coinbase Prime handle presently holds a zero steadiness, which means that the seized Bitcoin is probably going already offered.
BTC worth reacted to the information, slipping from $94,762 to $93,660. Bitcoin climbed 2% over the previous 24 hours, supported by a major rise in buying and selling quantity.
