US government moves $470 million in seized crypto to Coinbase Prime, Arkham reports
Wallets linked to the U.S. government transferred roughly $470 million in seized Bitcoin, Wrapped Bitcoin, and USDT to likely Coinbase Prime deposit addresses, according to Arkham Intelligence.
Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence reported on Oct. 7, 2026, that U.S. government wallets transferred roughly $470 million worth of cryptocurrency to addresses identified as likely Coinbase Prime deposit accounts. The transferred funds included Bitcoin, Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), and Tether (USDT), with Arkham tracing the assets to law-enforcement seizures from Alameda Research and the 2016 Bitfinex hack.[9][4][3]
Transactions logged on Arkham's dashboard included 2,818 BTC ($234.12 million), 1,156 BTC ($95.83 million), 595.274 BTC ($49.35 million), 750.188 WBTC ($62.34 million), and 24.885 million USDT ($24.88 million). Across a broader 48-hour window, tracking reported by EmberCN and Lookonchain showed government transfers to Coinbase Prime totaling between 6,215 and 9,261 Bitcoin, alongside up to 119 million USDT.[9][8][1][5]
No asset sale has been confirmed. While Coinbase Prime serves as the execution desk previously used by the government to liquidate seized crypto, Arkham noted the transfers could represent administrative work or internal wallet reorganization. Under an executive order signed in March 2025, Bitcoin placed into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve cannot be liquidated, but seized assets are not automatically placed into the reserve and remain subject to exceptions for court orders and victim restitution. Even after the transfers, Arkham data shows U.S. government wallets retain approximately $26.6 billion to $26.86 billion in crypto holdings, including over 319,000 BTC.[4][5][1][9]
Key facts
- Arkham Intelligence reported on Oct. 7, 2026, that U.S. government wallets transferred roughly $470 million in BTC, WBTC, and USDT to likely Coinbase Prime deposit addresses.
- The moved assets were seized in criminal investigations involving Alameda Research and the 2016 Bitfinex hack.
- Arkham dashboard entries included specific transfers of 2,818 BTC ($234.12 million), 1,156 BTC ($95.83 million), 595.274 BTC ($49.35 million), 750.188 WBTC ($62.34 million), and 24.885 million USDT ($24.88 million).
- No sale has been confirmed, and analysts noted the transfers could stem from custody management, internal wallet hygiene, or victim restitution.
- A March 2025 executive order prohibits selling Bitcoin placed in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, but seized crypto is not automatically reserve Bitcoin and allows exceptions for restitution and statutory forfeiture.
- Arkham data shows U.S. government wallets still hold roughly $26.6 billion to $26.86 billion in cryptocurrency, including over 319,000 BTC.
Sources · 9 sources
- TB
The Block@TheBlockCoPost on X ·
NEW: U.S. government-linked wallets transferred a total of 6,215 BTC ($516 million) and 119 million USDT over the past 48 hours to Coinbase Prime, according to EmberCN. The wallets also moved 40,285 BNB ($31 million). They still hold $26.6 billion worth of crypto, including $26.5 billion in bitcoin alone, per Arkham.
Open source - CO
Cointelegraph@CointelegraphPost on X ·
🇺🇸 TODAY: Arkham reports the U.S. government moved $470 million in BTC, WBTC and USDT to likely Coinbase Prime deposit addresses. https://t.co/9Mwyfgpu6I
Open source - CO
CoinMarketCap@CoinMarketCapPost on X ·
LATEST: 🇺🇸 The US government moved $470M in BTC, WBTC and USDT to what are likely Coinbase Prime deposit addresses, including Bitcoin previously seized from the Bitfinex hacker and Alameda Research, per Arkham. https://t.co/YRN1uevSoW
Open source - CR
CryptoSlateArticle ·
US government moves $470 million in seized crypto to Coinbase wallets, raising Bitcoin sale questions The US government moved about $470 million in seized crypto to likely Coinbase Prime addresses, according to Arkham, reviving questions over potential asset sales. On Oct. 7, blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence said the transfers included Bitcoin , wrapped Bitcoin and USDT. Arkham linked the transferred assets to seizures involving the 2016 Bitfinex hack and Alameda Research , the trading firm previously controlled by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried . Image Showing Latest US Bitcoin Transfers (Source: Arkham Intelligence) While we obviously can't say the Bitcoin is being sold, it is one plausible outcome. It's probably just as likely they are performing internal wallet hygiene or administrative work. Still, the destination puts the transaction under greater scrutiny after the Trump administration pledged to retain Bitcoin placed in the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and federal officials earlier this year rejected claims that seized coins had been quietly sold. A previous sale claim ended in a government denial The latest movement lands nine months after the US Marshals Service pushed back against reports that Washington had disposed of Bitcoin surrendered in the Samourai Wallet criminal case. Bitcoin Magazine reported in January that roughly $6.3 million of Bitcoin paid to the Justice Department as part of guilty pleas appeared to have been sold. Sen. Cynthia Lummis , one of Congress’ most prominent Bitcoin advocates, responded by questioning why the government would liquidate the asset after President Donald Trump had directed officials to preserve Bitcoin for the national reserve. But the Marshals Service told DL News it had not sold those BTC, while adding that its crypto liquidations pass through a multi-level approval process before forfeited assets can be disposed of. The issue became more sensitive after Trump established the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in March 2025. His executive order said Bitcoin deposited into the reserve “shall not be sold” and should instead be maintained as a US reserve asset. The White House argued at the time that premature government Bitcoin sales had already cost taxpayers more than $17 billion in foregone value. Seized Bitcoin does not automatically mean reserve Bitcoin The policy, however, leaves room for some government-controlled crypto to move out of federal hands. Trump’s order permits digital assets to be disposed of when required by a court or law, and when officials determine that assets or their proceeds should be returned to verified crime victims, used for law-enforcement purposes or applied toward other statutory forfeiture obligations. That distinction could be particularly important for these latest transfers. The government seized about 95,000 Bitcoin in 2022 from wallets controlled by Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan as part of the investigation into the Bitfinex hack. Lichtenstein later admitted to hacking the exchange, where about 119,754 Bitcoin were stolen in 2016. Authorities subsequently seized another roughly $475 million in assets tied to the theft. Those assets have faced competing forfeiture and restitution claims, so their legal treatment may differ from Bitcoin already transferred into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The FTX collapse also led to criminal forfeiture proceedings. The judge in Bankman-Fried’s case authorized recovered forfeiture funds to compensate victims , adding another potential victim-repayment dimension to the latest movements. That makes Wednesday’s transaction a test of how much can be inferred from government wallets alone. US Government Crypto Holdings (Source: Arkham Intelligence) A confirmed sale of Bitcoin deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, outside the order’s exceptions, would reopen questions over whether federal agencies are following the administration’s accumulation policy. A transfer made for custody, restitution or another permitted forfeiture purpose would fall into a different category. For now, Arkham reports hundreds of millions of dollars leaving US government wallets for likely Coinbase Prime deposit addresses. Whether those assets remain there, move into new custody arrangements, or are converted into dollars will determine whether the transaction becomes another false alarm over government Bitcoin sales or the first sign of a significant new disposal. The post US government moves $470 million in seized crypto to Coinbase wallets, raising Bitcoin sale questions appeared first on CryptoSlate .
Open source - CB
Crypto Banter@crypto_banterPost on X ·
🚨THE U.S. GOVERNMENT KEEPS MOVING BITCOIN! Government wallets sent about 9,261 bitcoin:native to Coinbase Prime over two days, including 4,632 bitcoin:native in the latest batch, per @lookonchain. That batch also included $119 million in USDT and 750 wrapped bitcoin:native. @glxyresearch says almost half came from the Bitfinex seizure, with some from FTX cases. No sale is confirmed. Coinbase Prime is still the desk they use when seized coins get sold.
Open source - KO
kook@KookCapitalLLCPost on X ·
the us government just moved $470m of seized $BTC and usdt toward coinbase prime the same day btc broke under $83k the strategic reserve that never sells..... arkham says its coins from the bitfinex hacker and alameda on top of the btc it already sent coinbase yesterday and the wallet still holds 319k $BTC maybe its restitution maybe its custody paperwork the tape doesnt care, it just sees a coinbase deposit during a flush if uncle sam is the seller everyone felt all week this gets ugly if its paperwork the dip just had a fake reason we find out soon
Open source - CR
CryptoSlate@CryptoSlatePost on X ·
US government wallets moved about $470M in seized crypto to likely Coinbase Prime addresses, @arkham reports. No sale is confirmed. The assets are linked to the Bitfinex hack and Alameda, and seized Bitcoin is not automatically reserve Bitcoin. https://t.co/mHBxk9Z0Kd
Open source - BL
BlockNews@blocknewsdotcomPost on X ·
🚨 BREAKING: 🇺🇸 The U.S. government has transferred another $470 MILLION worth of $BTC, $WBTC and $USDT. https://t.co/s2ld6l036w
Open source - AR
Arkham@arkhamPost on X ·
THE US GOVERNMENT JUST MOVED $470 MILLION The US Government just moved $470M of BTC, WBTC and USDT to likely Coinbase Prime deposit addresses. This is Bitcoin that had been seized from both the Bitfinex Hacker and Alameda Research. https://t.co/2kVoqirOeB
Open source