US Marshals Launch Investigation into Potential Digital Asset Hack
The US Marshals Service, responsible for the custody of cryptocurrencies seized by or forfeited to federal law enforcement agencies, is currently investigating a potential hack involving US government digital-asset accounts. This inquiry raises significant concerns about the security of government-held digital assets.
“At this time, we will not be making any statement as the matter is under investigation,” a spokesperson for the agency stated in an email, emphasizing the sensitivity of the situation.
On January 26, Patrick Witt, the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, shared an update on X, stating he is “on it.” He linked to a post from an anonymous on-chain investigator known as ZachXBT. In this post, ZachXBT alleged that government seizure addresses were included among the digital wallets from which a hacker stole over $60 million in late 2025. Attempts to reach ZachXBT for further comment were unsuccessful.
In a related development, last year, President Donald Trump established a national Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. This reserve is designed to hold forfeited Bitcoin, alongside the US Digital Asset Stockpile, which contains other digital assets forfeited during criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. These initiatives highlight the government’s increasing involvement in managing digital assets.
Hacking incidents have long been a significant issue within the cryptocurrency space. According to research conducted by Chainalysis, more than $3.4 billion in cryptocurrency was stolen in 2025 alone. This staggering figure underscores the vulnerabilities that exist within the digital asset ecosystem and the ongoing challenges faced by both individuals and institutions in safeguarding their assets.
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The US Marshals Service, responsible for the custody of cryptocurrencies seized by or forfeited to federal law enforcement agencies, is currently investigating a potential hack involving US government digital-asset accounts. This inquiry raises significant concerns about the security of government-held digital assets.
“At this time, we will not be making any statement as the matter is under investigation,” a spokesperson for the agency stated in an email, emphasizing the sensitivity of the situation.
On January 26, Patrick Witt, the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, shared an update on X, stating he is “on it.” He linked to a post from an anonymous on-chain investigator known as ZachXBT. In this post, ZachXBT alleged that government seizure addresses were included among the digital wallets from which a hacker stole over $60 million in late 2025. Attempts to reach ZachXBT for further comment were unsuccessful.
In a related development, last year, President Donald Trump established a national Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. This reserve is designed to hold forfeited Bitcoin, alongside the US Digital Asset Stockpile, which contains other digital assets forfeited during criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. These initiatives highlight the government’s increasing involvement in managing digital assets.
Hacking incidents have long been a significant issue within the cryptocurrency space. According to research conducted by Chainalysis, more than $3.4 billion in cryptocurrency was stolen in 2025 alone. This staggering figure underscores the vulnerabilities that exist within the digital asset ecosystem and the ongoing challenges faced by both individuals and institutions in safeguarding their assets.
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