US Government Signals Crypto Sale, Moving $219K in Seized Ethereum to Coinbase

U.S. Government Signals Crypto Sale, Moving $219K in Seized Ethereum to Coinbase

The U.S. government is seemingly preparing to sell a batch of seized cryptocurrency, according to on-chain data that shows a $219,000 Ethereum transfer to an institutional exchange. The transaction is made all the more significant by its origin: a government wallet holding funds confiscated from the notorious NFT phishing scammer, Chase Senecal.

In Brief:

  • Scammer’s Funds: On-chain data shows the U.S. government moving 86.5 ETH ($219K) seized from Chase Senecal, an NFT phisher also known as “Horror (HZ).”
  • Original 2022 Seizure: The funds are part of a larger asset forfeiture from October 2022, which included a Bored Ape NFT, a Doodle NFT, and a luxury watch, investigated by on-chain analyst ZachXBT.
  • Methodical Liquidation: The government first sent a $9.99 test transaction to a Coinbase Prime address before moving the main amount, signaling a planned sale of the assets.
  • Long Lifecycle: This event highlights the long lifecycle of seized digital assets, from the crime and seizure in 2022 to the eventual liquidation process years later.

The event, tracked on the intelligence platform Arkham, unfolded in two distinct steps. First, a small test transaction of 0.00394 ETH (worth $9.99) was sent from the government wallet. Roughly 30 minutes later, after the path was confirmed to be secure, the main sum of 86.564 ETH followed. This methodical approach is standard operational procedure for avoiding errors with irreversible blockchain transfers.

The destination, a Coinbase Prime deposit address, makes the government’s intention clear. As Coinbase’s institutional arm, it provides the regulated platform necessary for government agencies to liquidate forfeited assets into U.S. dollars.

U.S. Government Signals Crypto Sale, Moving $219K in Seized Ethereum to Coinbase

Context: The Origin of the U.S. Government Seized Funds

The wallet’s label, “Chase AKA HZ Seized Funds,” directly connects this liquidation to a high-profile case from the peak of the NFT boom. Chase Senecal, who operated under the alias “Horror (HZ),” was a scammer who targeted users in prominent NFT communities. An FBI investigation, aided by research from renowned on-chain analyst ZachXBT, led to a major asset seizure from Senecal in October 2022.

Those forfeited assets included high-value NFTs like Bored Ape #9658 and Doodle #3114, alongside an Audemars Piguet watch. The 86.5 ETH currently being moved for sale is the cryptocurrency component of that same 2022 seizure.

The Final Step in the Forfeiture Process

This transfer marks the final chapter for this specific batch of illicitly gained assets. After being held for years as the legal case proceeded, the funds are now set to be sold, with the proceeds likely to be deposited into the Treasury Forfeiture Fund. This fund is used to support various law enforcement programs and initiatives.

For market watchers, the event is a tangible example of the complete lifecycle of crypto-related justice. It showcases law enforcement’s ability not only to track and seize digital assets from criminals but also to professionally manage and liquidate them through established, compliant channels years after the initial crime took place.

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