Wallets linked to the U.S. government moved 12,267 bitcoin—worth approximately $1.01 billion at the time of transfer—on Thursday, according to blockchain intelligence firm Arkham. The funds originated from a wallet tied to the 2016 Bitfinex hack and were sent to new, unlabeled addresses in two transactions. No exchange deposit was recorded, suggesting the activity was wallet reshuffling rather than an immediate sale.
The movement followed a separate transfer about a day earlier involving roughly 3,200 BTC valued at around $264 million and $119 million in USDT sent to Coinbase Prime. Those assets came from wallets connected to the FTX/Alameda case and the Bitfinex seizure. Although deposits to Coinbase Prime can precede sales, the platform also provides custody services, and similar patterns occurred earlier this year without immediate liquidation.
The United States government still holds about $25.5 billion in cryptocurrency, including an estimated 328,372 bitcoin as of 2026, according to Arkham data. Most holdings stem from seized assets linked to criminal cases. A March 2025 executive order established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, stating that forfeited bitcoin should not be sold, and lawmakers are still working to codify that order into law.
The 2016 Bitfinex hack stole 119,756 bitcoin. The latest transfer is one of the larger single movements tracked recently, and analysts continue to monitor the wallets for any signs of a sale. Arkham and other on-chain observers highlighted the transaction, while the U.S. Marshals Service and Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a related industry development, ACAMS and Chainalysis announced an expanded crypto financial crime training program on Oct. 8. Chainalysis estimated that scams and fraud stole $17 billion in cryptocurrency during 2025, and illicit addresses received at least $154 billion. The redesigned Certified Cryptoasset AFC Specialist certification will include Chainalysis content and four courses covering blockchain technology, financial crime risk, compliance programs, and investigative case studies. Pre-sales are open ahead of the Nov. 19, 2026 launch.
