US Marshalls forfeited Bitcoin stash may be $20B smaller than estimated, raising eyebrows about reserve

The US Marshals Service (USMS) possesses approximately 29,000 Bitcoin, worth around $3.4 billion, according to a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. This is significantly lower than previous estimates of over 200,000 BTC, valued at $23.5 billion. The discrepancy has led to speculation that the US government may have sold a substantial amount of its Bitcoin holdings, possibly using methods that don't leave a trace on the blockchain. The FOIA request only covered Bitcoin that has been legally forfeited to the government. Seized Bitcoin, involved in ongoing investigations, might be held by other federal agencies and is often returned to victims of hacks or fraud, meaning it never becomes government property.