The U.S. government transferred $2 billion worth of seized Bitcoin on Monday, causing a drop in Bitcoin prices. Blockchain data from Arkham Intelligence revealed that a wallet labeled "U.S. Government: Silk Road DOJ" sent 29,800 BTC, originally tied to the Silk Road dark web marketplace, to an unknown address.
Out of the total transferred, 10,000 BTC, valued at $670 million, was moved to a different address, suspected by Arkham analysts to be an institutional custody or service deposit. Such movements often indicate upcoming asset sales, raising concerns among investors.
Following the transfer, Bitcoin's price fell below $67,000, down from a session high of $70,000 earlier in the day.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin was trading at $66,432 a 3.24% decline over the past 24 hours.
The broader CoinDesk 20 Index remained flat during the same period.
The timing of the U.S. government's move coincided with former President Donald Trump's pledge at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville. He promised to create a "strategic national bitcoin stockpile" if elected, adding another layer of intrigue to the situation. The U.S. is currently the largest holder of Bitcoin among world governments, with $13.9 billion worth of the cryptocurrency.
China follows closely with $13 billion, while Germany recently sold off its Bitcoin holdings, originally acquired from a piracy website seizure. This sale has been criticized by some, including a German parliament member, for not capitalizing on Bitcoin's potential as a hedge and diversification tool.
The 28,000 BTC moved by the U.S. government was part of assets seized from Silk Road. Initially confiscated in 2020, the Bitcoin was worth over $1 billion at the time. The U.S. government's crypto portfolio still holds more than $12 billion in Bitcoin, according to Arkham Intelligence.
Metaplanet, a Japanese firm known for its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy, has announced plans to raise approximately $880 million through an overseas share issuance.
XingChiThe UAE has built a Bitcoin reserve of around 6,300 BTC, worth up to $740 million, mainly through state-backed mining. This makes it one of the largest national holders, ranking just ahead of El Salvador.
AnaisA Philippine lawmaker has proposed that the central bank buy 2,000 bitcoins each year for five years, creating a national reserve of 10,000 coins. The plan aims to strengthen the country’s finances and provide a long-term store of value alongside traditional reserves like gold and foreign currency.
WeatherlyJapan plans to tax crypto profits at a flat 20% instead of rates as high as 55%. The regulator also aims to allow crypto ETFs and approve the country’s first yen-backed stablecoin.
AnaisArthur Hayes, the BitMEX co-founder pardoned by Donald Trump, has invested in a stem cell firm with clinics in Mexico and Bangkok. He is also backing crypto treasury firms while warning that the market may already be overheating.
WeatherlyA Pennsylvania lawmaker has put forward a bill to stop politicians and their families from owning or trading crypto while in office. The plan follows claims that Donald Trump has used his role to profit from tokens like his own memecoin.
WeatherlyBitcoin has retraced below $117,000 after reaching an all-time high last week, signaling a pause in upward momentum and growing caution among investors.
XingChiDutch cryptocurrency company Amdax is preparing to launch one of Europe’s most ambitious Bitcoin strategies yet: creating a dedicated Bitcoin treasury firm, seeking a listing on Amsterdam’s Euronext, and ultimately aiming to acquire 1% of the total Bitcoin supply.
XingChiThe SEC has delayed decisions on several crypto ETFs, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, pushing most deadlines into October. Regulators are working on new listing standards that could allow faster approvals of altcoin ETFs once rules are finalised.
WeatherlyTaiwan’s WiseLink led a $10 million funding round for Nasdaq-listed Top Win International, helping the company buy Bitcoin and expand into digital assets. The deal makes WiseLink the first public Taiwanese firm to back a Bitcoin treasury strategy and aims to combine crypto holdings with cross-border business operations.
WeatherlyA 26-year-old TikTok influencer and crypto trader was reportedly kidnapped in France and held for a €50,000 crypto ransom. But when the kidnappers found he had been all-in on XRP since 2018 and had little to show for it, they released him—allegedly sending $1,000 in USDT before letting him go.
KikyoBybit is launching Byreal, a new decentralised trading platform on Solana, with a testnet set for 30 June and mainnet in Q3 2025. It aims to combine the speed and liquidity of a centralised exchange with the fairness and openness of DeFi, using hybrid features like RFQ and CLMM routing.
WeatherlyIn a significant policy shift, Brazil has officially eliminated the tax exemption previously granted to small-scale crypto investors. Under the new regulation, all capital gains from cryptocurrency transactions will be subject to a flat 17.5% tax rate.
CatherineA crypto investor lost $6.9 million after buying a cold wallet through Douyin that had already been tampered with. The private key was stolen before sale, letting scammers take the funds and launder them through a crypto mixer.
AnaisSatoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin to sidestep centralised institutions and government control. But Coinbase’s sponsorship of a military parade has sparked debate: Is crypto abandoning its anti-establishment roots for mainstream acceptance?
KikyoCrypto scams are getting worse as criminals use AI deepfakes to trick people with fake videos and voices. In 2024 alone, these scams caused losses of $4.6 billion, with nearly 40% involving AI impersonations.
AnaisBSC has seen renewed sandwich attacks affecting 120,000+ DEX traders over two weeks. Still, volume remains steady as it leads in DEX activity and surpasses Solana in meme coin trading.
CatherineMetaplanet has reached 10,000 Bitcoin six months ahead of its target, becoming the ninth-largest public holder and surpassing Coinbase. It raised funds through zero-interest bonds and a record $5.4 billion equity programme, with plans to own 1% of all Bitcoin by 2027.
JoyTrump Media has received SEC approval to raise $2.3 billion through share deals and convertible notes, with plans to use part of the funds to buy Bitcoin. The company aims to hold Bitcoin in its treasury, launch a Bitcoin ETF, and offer crypto-based services through Truth Social and a new streaming platform.
WeatherlyBitget has partnered with UNICEF Luxembourg on a three-year initiative to boost blockchain literacy and STEM skills among girls in eight countries, empowering them to engage in the digital economy and shape the future of blockchain.
Catherine