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Germany Movie2K Bitcoin: Arkham says 45,000 BTC worth $5B remains unseized after Germany sold its earlier stash too early in 2024.
Author: Akshat Thakur
Published On: Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:22:32 GMT
September 8, 2025 — The Germany Movie2K Bitcoin case has taken a new turn after Arkham reported that 45,000 BTC linked to the piracy site Movie2K remains unseized. Worth nearly $5 billion at current prices, the stash raises fresh questions over how authorities handled one of Germany’s largest-ever crypto investigations.
Arkham announced Friday that it found 45,060 BTC in addresses linked to Movie2K. The coins have not moved since 2019 and are split across more than 100 wallets. Arkham said the stash is “most likely still under the control of the Movie2K operators.”
The discovery suggests that Germany may have missed a large portion of Bitcoin connected to the piracy site. None of the coins identified by Arkham were included in last year’s official sales.
In January 2024, German authorities seized nearly 50,000 BTC from two men suspected of running Movie2K. Prosecutors called it the country’s largest crypto seizure to date.
Authorities began liquidating the Bitcoin in June 2024, selling 49,858 BTC across multiple exchanges at an average price of $57,900. The sales generated about $2.8 billion.
By November, Bitcoin prices surged past $90,000 and reached $124,128 in mid-August 2025. Analysts estimate the coins would now be worth over $5 billion, fueling criticism that prosecutors sold too early.
If police pursue Arkham’s findings, they must prove in court that the 45,000 BTC is tied to Movie2K before seizing it. Even then, investigators will need to identify who controls the wallets and secure transfers of ownership.
German law requires authorities to quickly liquidate volatile assets such as cryptocurrencies if there’s a risk of losing 10% of their value, a rule prosecutors cited when selling the original Movie2K Bitcoin.
Germany is not alone in selling seized Bitcoin early. The U.S. Marshals Service has repeatedly auctioned BTC in the past, most famously from Silk Road seizures, often before major rallies. Critics argue such sales deny governments higher profits but supporters say they align with risk-management laws.
The Germany Movie2K Bitcoin saga highlights both the challenges and criticisms of handling seized crypto. With $5 billion in BTC still linked to Movie2K wallets, authorities face legal and technical hurdles before attempting a new seizure and risk missing out again if prices rise further.
Real voices. Real reactions.
Germany failed to seize part of the Bitcoin stash tied to the Movie2K piracy site 🔎 @arkham reports 45,000 $BTC ($5B) still sit untouched across 100+ wallets since 2019, likely controlled by the site’s operators. Earlier in 2024, authorities did manage to seize ~50,000 $BTC, https://t.co/gWOeVQfjRW
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