Trump's Bitcoin Reserve Promise Faces Uncertainty with Small Transfer

A small Bitcoin transfer has reignited fears that Washington could be preparing to liquidate its forfeited stash, despite President Donald Trump's 'never sell' promise. The movement involved a wallet tagged to the US government transferring a small amount of Bitcoin linked to assets seized from Alameda Research's Binance.US accounts.

The transfer is significant because it revives concerns that Washington could be selling off its Bitcoin holdings, which would contradict Trump's statement in March 2025 that he had made Bitcoin 'a permanent asset of the United States Treasury.' The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was established by Trump's executive order, which prohibits the sale of qualifying forfeited BTC.

Alameda Research's Binance.US accounts held approximately 682 BTC, worth around $53.6 million at a price near $78,463. This amount is tied to an $11 billion forfeiture order related to Alameda's collapse. The Department of Justice has already used this order to pay victims directly.

It's essential to note that the transfer does not necessarily mean the sale of Bitcoin. According to the source, 'Government-controlled' assets can be moved for custody, consolidation, or accounting purposes without signaling a direct sale. However, if the coins are sold for restitution purposes without clear public classification, it could reopen the 130,000 BTC accounting gap between trackers.