A direct sale of seized crypto would contradict President Trump’s executive order on the strategic reserve. We break down the details.
The US government has transferred about $297M in crypto assets to Coinbase Prime. According to Arkham Intelligence, 3,940 Bitcoin (BTC) and 30,014 Ethereum (ETH) were sent to the exchange on July 13.
Hot topic: Social Media Buzz for Bitcoin and Ethereum Drops to 2020 Lows
The funds are linked to several high-profile seizures:
- Bitcoin seized from Silk Road darknet dealer Ryan Farace and from the defunct BTC-e exchange.
- Ether linked to former Oracle employee Brian Krewson, charged with facilitating $54M in money laundering.
Another 140.2 BTC was moved between government Coinbase Prime addresses and a cold wallet–likely an internal reallocation.
THE US GOVERNMENT JUST DEPOSITED $280M OF CRYPTO TO COINBASE PRIME
— Arkham (@arkham) July 13, 2026
The US Government just deposited a total of $288.33M of BTC and ETH to Coinbase Prime. This includes confiscations from Brian Krewson, BTC-e, and Ryan Farace.
Will they be selling it all? pic.twitter.com/M5srRI3KJU
Trump’s Executive Order and Potential Sale: Why the Transfer Raised Questions
The transfer drew attention because a sale would contradict President Trump’s March 2025 executive order. Under that directive, seized bitcoin should go into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and not be sold.
Still, the deposit itself doesn’t confirm a sale. Coinbase Prime offers institutional clients custody, trading, financing, and staking services. The transfer could simply be a consolidation of assets for management.
Authorities have previously moved seized assets to Coinbase Prime. In May 2026, UNI, CRO, and Chainlink (LINK) tokens worth $34,800 were sent, followed by $1.9M in altcoins. In June, 98,589 LINK was transferred. In April, 8.2 BTC linked to the 2016 Bitfinex hack was moved.
The US Government just moved $800K of Alameda’s funds.
— Arkham (@arkham) May 29, 2026
Many Alameda/FTX assets that were seized by the DOJ will be returned to FTX estate creditors and those who lost assets in FTX’s collapse.
Another $800K has been reclaimed for crypto users. pic.twitter.com/jW7PAcF1p4
Read more: What Is the Federal Crypto Reserve — How Many Bitcoins Are in the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve?
How the Crypto Market Reacted
Market reaction was muted. Over 24 hours, BTC price fell less than 1% to $62,650, while ETH price dropped to $1,780.
According to Arkham, the US government still holds about $20.65B in crypto assets, including 324,552 BTC, 28,394 ETH, and 145.5 million USDT. That makes it one of the world’s largest holders of seized cryptocurrency.
If the assets are moved off Coinbase Prime to new addresses or converted to stablecoins, it could signal an impending sale. For now, the transfer appears to be a routine asset management operation.
Learn more: These US Banks Now Support Bitcoin & Stablecoins in 2026 — Full Breakdown of Crypto Banking Access
The post US Government Transfers $297 Million in Seized Bitcoin and Ether to Coinbase Prime appeared first on Bitcoin Foundation.