#美司法部抛售比特币 In the view of cryptocurrency supporters, Trump's return to the White House marks the beginning of a new golden era for cryptocurrencies. Trump returned to the White House, pledging to include Bitcoin in the national strategic reserves; and the Deputy Attorney General issued a memo calling for a halt to "witch hunts" against non-hostile encryption tools. However, beneath the seemingly calm surface, a covert war is brewing over "who is the real decision-maker" between the Office of the Federal Prosecutor for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and Washington.

Recently, an asset liquidation document leaked like a ticking time bomb, revealing a vulnerability in the Bitcoin strategy shield followed by the Trump administration — where the U.S. Law Enforcement (USMS), under the directives of the New York Attorney General, sold Bitcoin seized from Samurai Wallet developer (Samourai Wallet). This was not just an asset liquidation operation, but a public slap to Executive Order No. 14233 issued by Trump on March 6, 2025.
57.55 Bitcoins Disappeared
The story centered around an undisclosed asset liquidation agreement. Samurai Wallet developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill agreed in a plea deal to forfeit approximately $6.3 million worth of Bitcoin. According to Arkham Intel network tracking, about 57.55 Bitcoin were transferred from the relevant address on November 3, 2025. Instead of being sent as expected to the "American Bitcoin Strategic Reserve (SBR)" newly established treasury, it went directly to the Cb Prime address. Then, the balance was zeroed out. This means: it was sold.
For most people, this appears to be a routine judicial procedure. But in the context of 2026 politics, this act carries a significant challenge. Because, according to Executive Order No. 14233 (EO 14233) signed by Trump, Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil seizure procedures is clearly known as "Government Bitcoin" (Government Bitcoin). The presidential order is clear and explicit: "It is not permitted to sell," and it must be kept as part of the national strategic reserve.
" sovereignty declaration in the New York area"
Why can this Bitcoin be sold under the presidential order?
It is necessary to point out the area known as the "Sovereignty Area in New York" — which is the Office of the Federal Prosecutor for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
SDNY is a very unique entity within the American judicial system. Although it officially falls under the Department of Justice, it is known for its independent, strong, and sometimes rebellious style. In this sale process, SDNY seems to be sending a message abroad: Washington orders are Washington orders, and Manhattan rules are Manhattan rules.
It even ignored the memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued on April 7, 2025, which clarified that "the Department of Justice will no longer pursue activities of cryptocurrency exchanges, obfuscation services, and end-users of non-hostile wallets."
Nevertheless, SDNY continued to pursue Samurai lawsuits and continued to pursue Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm. Even when a senior official at FinCEN (FinCEN) hinted that the non-hostile nature of Samurai does not qualify it as a money transfer institution, SDNY persisted.
The Gray Shadows of Law and Power Arrogance
If SDNY wants to justify its actions, it can certainly find loopholes in legal texts. According to legal sources, the basis for seizure is Article 982 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code (US Code). Although the law states that seized assets belong to the United States, there is no explicit text requiring them to be converted into cash.
This is the core contradiction: the law grants prosecutors discretionary authority, but the executive order imposes restrictions.
SDNY chose to exercise its discretion, converting Bitcoin into U.S. dollars, which could be technically considered "lawful custom," but politically represents a direct rejection of the administration's intentions. They did not respect that these are strategic assets, but were keen to liquidate "banned assets" before they entered the national treasury.
The outcome is uncertain: the next step of the president
This incident puts Trump in a difficult position. On one hand, he considers pardoning Samurai developer Rodriguez to show support for non-hostile technologies. On the other hand, his subordinate agencies are selling Bitcoin that was supposed to belong to the state, right before his eyes. If Trump actually pardons Rodriguez and orders an investigation into the sale process, it would be a direct confrontation between the executive branch and the judiciary.
Has the Bitcoin battle truly ended? That is the question all cryptocurrency supporters are asking.
Despite the change of the White House chief, the massive federal government machinery, and a complex network known as the "Deep State," remain hostile toward cryptocurrencies.
What SDNY sold is not just 57.55 Bitcoin, but also a loss of market confidence in "political consistency."
This incident serves as a wake-up call: on the road to a national Bitcoin reserve, perhaps the biggest obstacle is not market volatility but resistance and division within the power apparatus itself. For Trump, to build a real strategic Bitcoin reserve, he may first need to deal with these "prosecutors out there, whose orders are not obeyed."