Supreme Court Clears Path for U.S. Government to Liquidate $4.32 Billion in Seized Silk Road Bitcoin
October 7, 2024The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a case regarding the ownership of 69,370 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $4.32 billion, seized from the Silk Road dark web marketplace.
With the Supreme Court's refusal to take up the case, the U.S. government is now free to manage the seized Bitcoin as it sees fit.
This decision upholds a 2022 ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which mandated the liquidation of the Bitcoin.
In preparation for a potential sale, the U.S. government has already transferred significant amounts of seized Bitcoin, including $2 billion in late July and $593.5 million in mid-August.
Despite ongoing legal disputes, the U.S. government has been actively transferring Bitcoin linked to the Silk Road, moving 31,799 BTC in April and another 29,999 BTC three months later.
The U.S. Marshals Service is expected to manage the auction process for the seized Bitcoin, which could soon be sold off.
The upcoming sale of the Bitcoin is speculated to be politically motivated, coinciding with the approaching U.S. elections.
Analysts predict that the anticipated sale could create a supply shock in the Bitcoin market, potentially affecting its price.
The U.S. Marshals Service has a custody arrangement with Coinbase Prime for holding the seized Bitcoin.
Legal disputes over the Bitcoin date back to 2022, when the U.S. government seized the funds from James Zhong.
Battle Born Investments' appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit was rejected, with the court stating that the company's claims were based on speculation.
Battle Born claimed ownership of the Bitcoin through a bankruptcy estate related to Silk Road, but the courts found insufficient evidence to support their arguments.
Summary based on 6 sources
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Sources
Cointelegraph • Oct 8, 2024
US Supreme Court knocks back case over $4.4B Silk Road BitcoinDecrypt • Oct 7, 2024
Supreme Court Won't Hear Case Over $4.4 Billion in Seized Silk Road BitcoinCrypto Briefing • Oct 7, 2024
Supreme Court clears path for US to sell $4.4 billion in seized Silk Road BitcoinBeInCrypto • Oct 8, 2024
Supreme Court Allows the US to Sell 69,370 Seized Silk Road Bitcoin