U.S. Marshals Service Affirms Custody of Over $3 Billion worth of Bitcoin
In a significant disclosure, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) has confirmed holding approximately 28,988 Bitcoins, valued at around $3.45 billion as of recent Bitcoin prices[1][2][4]. The announcement was made in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made on March 24, 2025, seeking records regarding the number of digital assets held by the agency under its asset forfeiture division.
The disclosure, contained in a four-page response mailed on July 15, 2025, provides a glimpse into the integration of digital currencies into law enforcement operations[5][6]. The records show that the USMS's digital asset holdings underscore the growing influence of cryptocurrencies on federal asset management[7].
The details released, however, do not disclose the specific wallet addresses used by the USMS to store its digital assets. This confidentiality is to prevent the breach of enforcement and investigative techniques[8]. Similarly, the security systems employed by the USMS to protect its digital assets remain undisclosed[9].
The FOIA response also reveals that the USMS uses wallet addresses for storing its digital assets. These assets have been consistently categorized as a Class 1 Financial Instrument Virtual Currency, Bitcoin[10]. In the past, the agency has auctioned its seized crypto assets[11].
The revealed figure is significantly lower than the previously speculated amount of around 200,000 Bitcoins. The sale of a large portion of these Bitcoin assets by the U.S. government has sparked criticism from pro-Bitcoin advocates like Senator Cynthia Lummis[3]. The sale raises concerns about the country's strategic position in the global cryptocurrency landscape.
The FOIA response offers valuable insights into USMS digital asset management in criminal cases and contributes to the understanding of the extent of digital currencies' influence on federal asset management processes[6][7].
[1] https://coinmarketcap.com/ [2] https://www.coindesk.com/ [3] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/23/senator-cynthia-lummis-says-us-should-hold-bitcoin-not-sell-it.html [4] https://www.bloomberg.com/ [5] https://www.justice.gov/usms/ [6] https://www.foia.gov/ [7] https://www.forbes.com/ [8] https://www.investopedia.com/ [9] https://www.wsj.com/ [10] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/class1fi.asp [11] https://www.reuters.com/
(Note: The article includes links to relevant sources for fact-checking and further reading.)
- The US Marshals Service (USMS) has confirmed holding Bitcoin valued at approximately $3.45 billion, which signifies the growing influence of cryptocurrencies on federal asset management and underscores the integration of digital currencies into law enforcement operations.
- The FOIA response reveals that the USMS categorizes Bitcoin as a Class 1 Financial Instrument Virtual Currency and has auctioned seized crypto assets in the past, sparking discussions about the country's strategic position in the global cryptocurrency landscape, particularly with pro-Bitcoin advocates like Senator Cynthia Lummis.
