Crypto Market Dumps Over Rumors Of US Govt. Selling BTC

The United States (US) government has sold off approximately 9.8K BTC digital currencies worth about $227 million
By Godfrey Benjamin

There are ongoing rumors that the United States government has just parted with 9800 Bitcoin (BTC) in a sale that reportedly raked in $277 million. The supposedly sudden release of that quantity of BTC in the crypto space caused the value of the coin to begin its depreciation and is currently trading at $27,687.83 down by a marginal gain of 0.84%. 

Before the U.S. government sold the BTC, the price of the digital currency shot up beyond $28,000.

By the rumors, the U.S. government will still have a total of over 200,000 BTC. However, if the decision to sell this massive BTC in the long run is reached, it may cause the price of Bitcoin to plunge further down to less than $10,000. Such huge BTC sales usually causes mixed directions amongst crypto enthusiasts especially those who holds a significant percentage of the coin.

This time around, several responses to the WhaleWire tweet indicates that the Bitcoin sales, if  true, will be a welcome development. In the mean time, BTC is still taking a bullish stance and has a medium level of volatility based on today’s price analysis.

Advertisement
Advertisement

U.S. Government Selling Confiscated BTC

This happens to be the second time the government is selling this same quantity of BTC. As per a screenshot shared by WhaleWire on Twitter, three weeks ago, the U.S. government sold 9800 BTC.

All of these cryptocurrencies were seized in what the government called criminal operations. In November 2022, about 50,000 BTC were confiscated from crypto criminal James Zhong. Notably, this was not the first time that such an incident is happening. Way back in 2014, the federal government also sold off 30,000 BTC which it secured from the same source.

At the time, American cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase was tapped as the platform which the government leveraged to complete the sales. Again in March, it was reported that about 40,000 BTC in wallets linked to the U.S. government were on the move. It was however, discovered that a significant portion of the coins were being transferred internally while the others were on Coinbase.

During that time, Glassnode noted that “approximately 9,861 $BTC seized from the Silk Road hacker have been sent to our Coinbase cluster.”

Advertisement
Godfrey Benjamin
Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalists who relish writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desires to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain based media and sites. Benjamin Godfrey is a lover of sports and agriculture. Follow him on X, Linkedin
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.