Answer · confidence: partial
Did any government ever sell its bitcoin, and what happened to the price?
Research question: Has any government ever sold bitcoin it held, and what did the price do afterward?
Yes. The US government sold 29,657 seized bitcoin at its first auction on 27 June 2014, for about $18.74 million, with Tim Draper as the winning bidder 23. The price fell around the announcement, dropping from $665 on June 3 to $565 47. A second government sale in December 2014 barely moved the price 6. Germany's Saxon authorities sold 49,858 BTC in 2024 for about €2.64 billion, but the sources do not report how the price changed afterward 10119. The UK sale is only a proposal 1, and recent US wallet transfers have not been confirmed as sales, with the newest fact dated October 13, 2026 1415.
Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
The UK Home Office is exploring selling seized crypto assets, including about 61,000 Bitcoin (worth roughly $7 billion) from a 2018 Chinese Ponzi scheme, to help address public finances. This is a proposal, not a completed sale.
"The UK Home Office is exploring the sale of seized crypto assets, including 61,000 Bitcoin worth approximately $7 billion from a 2018 Chinese Ponzi scheme, to help address public finance pressures, The Telegraph reported today."UK eyes $7 billion Bitcoin sale to ease pressure on public finances
[2] supported
The US Marshals Service planned to auction 29,657 bitcoins seized from the Silk Road bust, the first such public auction by the US government.
"The massive US public auction of bitcoins – a first for the US government – had little effect on the price of bitcoin, which plunged after China's central bank refused to recognize the virtual online currency in December."US Marshals Service to auction 'Silk Road' bitcoin valued at $17 million - CSMonitor.com
[3] supported
The US government sold 29,657 seized bitcoin at its first auction on 27 June 2014, for about $18.74 million, and the winning bidder was Tim Draper.
"Tim Draper Wins First Bitcoin Batch"US Government Seized Bitcoin Sales Tracker
[4] supported
The price of bitcoin dropped after the US government announced the auction, falling from $665 on June 3 to $565.
"In the past two months, bitcoin has been making a quiet comeback . Its value hit a three-month high of $665 on June 3. Thursday’s US auction announcement prompted yet another slide, to $565."US Marshals Service to auction 'Silk Road' bitcoin valued at $17 million - CSMonitor.com
[5] supported
The UK government is deciding whether to sell its seized roughly 61,000 Bitcoin, but this is a pending decision and the document does not report any completed sale.
"The UK is deciding whether to sell its seized 61,000 Bitcoin, establish a Bitcoin treasury, or compensate fraud victims."UK Government Prepares Sale of Seized Bitcoin Assets
[6] supported
The second government sale of seized bitcoins in December barely moved the price at all.
"The second sale, in December, barely moved the price at all."US Marshals Sell The Last Of The Seized Silk Road Bitcoins
[7] supported
The price of bitcoin took a slight tumble after the federal government announced it would auction nearly 30,000 bitcoins, and the value of the bitcoins was about $17.4 million.
"The price of bitcoin took a slight tumble Thursday and Friday after the federal government announced it will auction off nearly 30,000 bitcoins later this month."US Marshals Service to auction 'Silk Road' bitcoin valued at $17 million - CSMonitor.com
[8] supported
VC Tim Draper had been quietly buying the seized coins for the past year, though the USMS did not announce the winner of the entire collection.
"The USMS has not announced the name of the winner of the entire collection of bitcoin but VC Tim Draper has been quietly buying these seized coins for the past year."US Marshals Sell The Last Of The Seized Silk Road Bitcoins
[9] supported
The source does not report how the price of the sold bitcoin changed afterward; it lists the current value of all sold BTC as unknown.
"Current USD value of all sold BTC: ???"US Government Seized Bitcoin Sales Tracker
[10] supported
Germany, through Saxony, sold 49,858 BTC in an emergency sale between June 19 and July 12, 2024.
"Germany or Saxony sold 49,858 BTC between June 19 and July 12, 2024 as part of an "emergency sale"."If Germany had held the 50,000 Bitcoin
[11] supported
The sale brought in about €2.64 billion, an average price of €52,944 per bitcoin.
"The proceeds amounted to €2,639,683,413.92 , resulting in an average selling price of €52,944 per BTC ."If Germany had held the 50,000 Bitcoin
[12] supported
Saxon authorities seized the bitcoin in criminal proceedings against the operators of the illegal movie streaming platform movie2k.
"Saxon authorities seized the Bitcoin as part of the criminal proceedings against the operators of the illegal movie streaming platform "movie2k"."If Germany had held the 50,000 Bitcoin
[13] supported
According to David Sacks, the US government's past sales of seized Bitcoin brought in about $366 million.
"According to Sacks, the US government’s past sales of seized Bitcoin brought in approximately $366 million."US government's crypto holdings drop $16 billion from their peak
[14] supported
No sales of the US government's Bitcoin have been confirmed; the recent large transfers appear to be custody consolidation rather than market dumping.
"No sales have been confirmed. The activity is consistent with custody consolidation, which means moving coins between storage arrangements rather than dumping them on the open market."US government Bitcoin holdings fall to 328,372 BTC in 2026
[15] supported
US government-linked wallets sent roughly 9,261 BTC (about $770 million) to Coinbase Prime, but this was a transfer to a custodian, not a confirmed sale.
"Per Galaxy Research, wallets linked to the government sent roughly 9,261 BTC to the digital asset custodian on October 6 and 7."BTC Sell-Off? US Government Moves $770M Bitcoin to Coinbase
[16] supported
The seized Bitcoin the government sold for about $366 million would be worth an estimated $17 billion at the article's prices.
"Those same coins would now carry an estimated value of $17 billion."US government's crypto holdings drop $16 billion from their peak
[17] supported
Executive Order 14233, signed in March 2025, prohibited sales of seized assets and created the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
"Executive Order 14233, signed in March 2025, created the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and prohibited sales of seized assets."US government Bitcoin holdings fall to 328,372 BTC in 2026
[18] supported
The article says there is no evidence of a completed government sale, so a major sell-off cannot be confirmed.
"Until there is evidence of a completed sale, it will not be possible to say with certainty that a major BTC sell-off is taking place."BTC Sell-Off? US Government Moves $770M Bitcoin to Coinbase
[19] supported
The government stopped routine sales of forfeited Bitcoin after a March 2025 executive order established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
"The government stopped making routine sales after a March 2025 executive order established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve."US government's crypto holdings drop $16 billion from their peak