Key Takeaways
- US seeks forfeiture of 20.2 BTC from Chaos ransomware group, valued at $2.4 million.
- Estimates of US authorities bitcoin holdings range, with reported figures starting from 28,988 to almost 198,000 BTC.
- Solely three US states—Arizona, Texas, and New Hampshire—have handed legal guidelines establishing state bitcoin reserves.
The USA has filed a civil grievance within the Northern District of Texas searching for the forfeiture of 20.2 bitcoin—valued at round $2.4 million—that had been seized by the FBI’s Dallas workplace from an tackle linked to the Chaos ransomware group.
The grievance alleges these funds had been derived from illegal exercise related to ransomware assaults.
Seizure might enhance nationwide bitcoin reserve
If profitable, this seizure would contribute to the proposed US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, an idea formalized in President Trump’s March 6 govt order.
The reserve is meant to be constructed utilizing bitcoin confiscated by way of prison or civil asset forfeiture.
Up to now, the Division of Justice, FBI, and different companies have usually seized bitcoin in reference to prison investigations.
Questions on us authorities bitcoin holdings
Estimates from blockchain analytics companies corresponding to Arkham and Nansen recommend the US authorities holds roughly 198,000 bitcoin, although a latest freedom of knowledge request to america Marshals Service (USMS) indicated the company at present controls simply over 28,988 bitcoin.
Journalist L0la L33tz clarified that this determine could not embrace cash held by the FBI, DEA, or different companies:
“There could also be different custody places of work than the USMS.”
Arkham additional famous that varied authorities arms—together with the FBI, DOJ, and US Legal professional’s Workplaces—keep separate wallets, with none of those bitcoin moved for at the least 4 months.
States transfer to ascertain their very own bitcoin reserves
At the very least 30 US states have launched laws to ascertain a bitcoin strategic reserve, in keeping with Bitcoin Legal guidelines.
Nonetheless, solely Arizona, Texas, and New Hampshire have efficiently enacted such measures, whereas many proposals have didn’t advance past preliminary committees.