Did the Department of Justice just violate Trump's Bitcoin reservation order? $6 million sale raises doubts

Source: Yellow Original Title: Did the Department of Justice violate Trump’s Bitcoin reserve order? $6 million sale raises questions

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Background

A recent Bitcoin liquidation transaction by the U.S. Department of Justice has attracted attention. According to judicial records, this transaction may conflict with the current executive order signed by President Trump. The order stipulates how seized digital assets should be handled.

Details of the Event

According to judicial documents related to the Samourai wallet case, under the guidance of the Department of Justice, approximately 57.55 Bitcoins were sold on a certain trading platform on November 3, 2025.

At the time, these Bitcoins were worth over $6 million and were confiscated as part of an asset liquidation agreement involving the developer of the Samourai wallet.

Records from the Southern District Court of New York show that defendants Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill agreed to transfer approximately $6.37 million worth of Bitcoin to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The agreement authorized the agency to immediately liquidate these assets through its chosen cryptocurrency platform, converting the proceeds to USD after deducting fees.

However, the timing and manner of this transaction have raised questions, as they appear to contradict Executive Order No. 14233 signed earlier this year by Trump.

This executive order states that Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture should be retained by the federal government and allocated to the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, rather than sold on the open market.

The apparent sale of Bitcoin related to Samourai indicates that, at least in this case, the Department of Justice acted in accordance with existing seizure and liquidation practices, rather than following the new executive order.

Why It Matters

Analysts point out that the executive order aims to formally establish Bitcoin as a federal strategic asset, restricting discretionary sales that could impact the market or undermine long-term reserve policies.

This incident involving the Samourai wallet case is not the first to cause tension.

Reports indicate that prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have sometimes deviated from broader federal guidelines, especially as Washington re-evaluates its stance on digital assets amid increasing geopolitical and financial considerations.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the DOJ have not publicly commented on whether the transaction on November 3, 2025, complies with Executive Order No. 14233 or if any exceptions apply.

The trading platform involved in facilitating the transaction has also not issued any statements.