45,000 BTC Tied to Movie2K Unseized by Germany

German Authorities Have Not Seized Additional 45,000 BTC From Movie2K

Arkham Intelligence reports that approximately $5 billion in Bitcoin tied to Movie2K remains unseized by German authorities since the operators’ arrest in 2019.

The discovery highlights regulatory challenges in cryptocurrency asset seizure and may impact market dynamics if the BTC cluster re-enters circulation.

The identified Bitcoin stash, now valued at approximately $5 billion, has been untouched in various wallets since 2019, Arkham Intelligence reports.

“About 45,000 BTC were additionally identified in Bitcoin wallets related to the illegal movie website Movie2K that had not moved since 2019.” — Arkham Intelligence

The original Movie2K operators, arrested in 2019, surrendered around 49,858 BTC in 2024.

However, the German government liquidated their seized bitcoins, yet no action has been taken to seize the remaining identified BTC cluster, which resides across over 100 wallets.

German authorities’ liquidation in 2024 affected BTC market prices, dropping them below $50,000. Had the government held these assets, as some experts suggest , the total valuation today could demonstrate twofold market growth, potentially impacting national reserves strategies.

Blockchain analytics from Arkham unveiled these untouched BTC, spotlighting the ongoing debate about government handling of seized cryptocurrencies. Current financial trends indicate potential future developments in BTC market liquefaction.

Historical precedents like Silk Road seizures have shown price volatility and asset appreciation.

Regulatory and technological outcomes remain topics of heated debate, with a focus on whether central authorities should retain seized cryptocurrencies for strategic reserves.