The U.S. Marshals Service has opened an investigation into a possible compromise of digital-asset accounts held by the federal government, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing an email from the agency.
According to the report, the Marshals Service indicated it would refrain from additional comment at this time because the matter remains under investigation. The agency did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, the report added.
The U.S. Marshals Service has a defined role in managing certain cryptocurrencies in federal cases - overseeing, securing and selling digital assets that have been seized or forfeited. Custody and the disposal of such assets form part of its support for law-enforcement operations.
This announcement comes against a backdrop of elevated cryptocurrency thefts in 2025. Blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis reported that hack volumes climbed to $3.4 billion in 2025, a figure cited in the reporting around the Marshals Service probe.
Separately, on Monday Patrick Witt, executive director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, wrote on X that he was "on it" in response to a post by on-chain investigator ZachXBT. The investigator had posted that a hacker had stolen more than $60 million in late 2025, and that the takings included funds drawn from government seizure wallets, the report said.
At present, details available publicly are limited to the statements noted above. The Marshals Service's stated decision to limit comment while the investigation continues means that the precise scope and potential impact of any unauthorized access to government-held digital assets remain unconfirmed.
Context and immediate implications
As reported, the probe centers on accounts the federal government uses to hold cryptocurrencies involved in law-enforcement proceedings. The combination of an uptick in total crypto hack volumes for 2025 and the on-chain investigator's claim regarding late-2025 thefts has increased scrutiny on custody practices and asset controls tied to government seizure wallets.
With official statements limited, observers and stakeholders must rely on the available public reporting and on-chain indicators while the Marshals Service continues its investigation.