According to a court document filed on March 31, 2023, regarding the sentencing of James Zhong, who stole over 50,000 bitcoin from the Silk Road marketplace, the U.S. government plans to liquidate 41,490 bitcoin “over the course of this calendar year.”
The U.S. government, one of the largest holders of bitcoin, plans to sell 41,490 BTC in 2023, according to a court filing submitted in the case of James Zhong’s sentencing. The government made the historic bitcoin seizure in November 2022 when it confiscated over 50,000 BTC from Zhong.
The defendant pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud in September 2012 when he unlawfully obtained over 50,000 bitcoin from the Silk Road dark web internet marketplace.
The U.S. government holds 205,515 BTC. In the filing submitted on Friday, federal authorities plan to sell at least 41,490 BTC worth $1.17 billion at today’s exchange rates.
The court document notes, “With respect to the 51,351.89785803 bitcoin forfeited in the Ulbricht case before Judge Schofield, the government has begun liquidating (selling) it. On March 14, 2023, the government sold 9,861.1707894 BTC (of the 51,351.89785803 BTC for a total of $215,738,154.98.”
If the funds were sold on Coinbase, it would be different from the U.S. government’s previous auction style of selling seized crypto assets. When the government sells the 41,490 BTC, it will still have 164,025 BTC, or $4.65 billion worth, remaining.