U.S. Government Transfers Bitcoin From Seized Wallet for First Time in 2026

TLDR

• The U.S. government moved 0.33 BTC from a wallet labeled “Miguel Villanueva Seized Funds” on March 3, 2026 — its first Bitcoin transfer of the year.
• The three transactions totaled 0.3348143 BTC, worth roughly $22,876 at the time.
• The U.S. government currently holds 328,371.99 BTC valued at $22.45 billion.
• Following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, oil prices surged — WTI crude jumped 7.88% to $76.84 per barrel.
• Bitcoin dropped more than 2% to $67,627.50, while gold fell 3.5% and silver dropped over 6.5%.

On March 3, 2026, U.S. federal authorities moved a small amount of Bitcoin from a government-controlled wallet. The transfer was the first onchain Bitcoin movement by the U.S. government in 2026.

Blockchain data from Arkham Intelligence shows three separate transactions from wallets labeled “Miguel Villanueva Seized Funds.” The transfers sent 0.05678428 BTC, 0.24020319 BTC, and 0.03782683 BTC to new, unknown addresses.

The total amount moved was 0.3348143 BTC. At a rate of $68,326.07 per Bitcoin, that comes to roughly $22,876.55.

No court filings or government statements explain who Miguel Villanueva is. The reason for the seizure has not been made public.

The U.S. government’s last Bitcoin transfer before this one was on November 3, 2025. At that time, authorities moved 57.55 BTC to Coinbase Prime.

Before that, on October 14, 2025, the government shifted 1,320.24 BTC from wallets tied to “Potapenko/Turogin Forfeited Funds.” That was a much larger transfer by comparison.

As of March 3, 2026, the U.S. government holds 328,371.99 BTC. That holding is valued at approximately $22.45 billion.

These moves follow President Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, created by executive order last year. Under that order, the federal government pledged never to sell its Bitcoin holdings.

In January, blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported that $40 million in crypto had been taken from government seizure wallets. He linked the theft to a third party reportedly managing the government’s digital asset forfeitures.

Oil Prices Surge After Khamenei Death

The Bitcoin transfers came on the same day that global markets were reacting to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. His assassination has intensified the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Oil prices moved sharply higher. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 7.88% to $76.84 per barrel, and Brent Crude climbed 7.41% to $83.50 per barrel.

Crypto and Precious Metals Fall

While oil rose, other assets fell. Bitcoin was down more than 2% on the day, trading at $67,627.50.

Gold dropped over 3.5% to $5,100.27 per ounce. Silver fell more than 6.5% to $82.64 per ounce.

The latest government Bitcoin transfer is the only confirmed onchain movement since November 3, 2025. The Villanueva wallet is now emptied, with funds sent to addresses not yet linked to any known entity.

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