U.S. government moves seized bitcoin from Alameda accounts, sale in focus

[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee] The U.S. government moved some bitcoin seized from accounts linked to Alameda Research.

On Aug. 26 local time, blockchain media outlet U.Today reported that blockchain analytics firm Arkham detected a transfer from a U.S. government wallet that day.

The bitcoin moved came from funds seized about 3 years ago from Alameda accounts on Binance and Binance.US. Arkham did not view the transfer as a sale and did not specify the destination.

The market is watching the transaction because the U.S. government has repeatedly moved seized assets related to FTX and Alameda over recent months. Arkham also identified in May that altcoins worth about $1.9 million seized from Alameda were moved to Coinbase Prime. Assets moved at the time included Render (RNDR), Uniswap (UNI), The Sandbox (SAND), Mask Network (MASK) and Axie Infinity (AXS).

In July, a U.S. government-linked wallet transferred $288 million worth of bitcoin and ether seized in multiple criminal cases to Coinbase Prime. This transfer is also seen as part of that trend, but whether it will be sold or whether there are plans for additional transfers has not been confirmed.

Alameda holdings are part of large-scale forfeiture procedures carried out after the collapse of FTX. Arkham previously said in 2024 that the U.S. government seized 3 Alameda Research accounts on Binance and Binance.US. More than $300 million in assets were identified in those wallets, and total assets subject to forfeiture related to FTX and Alameda exceeded $700 million. Seized assets at the time included about $10,200 worth of bitcoin and wrapped bitcoin (cirBTC).