Germany Might Have Overlooked the Opportunity to Seize $5B in BTC from Movie2K
German authorities believed they had finalized one of the most significant cryptocurrency cases in the nation’s history when they confiscated and sold nearly 50,000 BTC associated with the piracy site Movie2K. However, a fresh inquiry is causing some skepticism. It appears there could be another substantial hoard that was entirely disregarded.
There Could Be More Hidden Assets
In early 2024, German law enforcement took custody of Bitcoin surrendered by Movie2K’s administrators. Those coins were auctioned for close to $3 billion. At the time, it seemed like a real accomplishment. Now, with the price of BTC significantly increased, those coins would be worth much more. According to distributed database analysis firm Arkham, the initial collection might not represent the entire situation.
In 2024, one of the operators of the streaming site Movie2k voluntarily turned over 50,000 Bitcoin to the German
government, even before any charges had been filed.
Although the German government sold off the coins a long time ago, new evidence suggests that the operator might still own… pic.twitter.com/WlGTgck43r
— CR1337 (@cryptonator1337) September 7, 2025
The Evidence Lies Within the Wallets
Arkham uncovered over 100 additional wallets that still contain approximately 45,000 Bitcoin. These wallets have remained inactive since 2019 and exhibit the same characteristics as those that were confiscated. They all trace back to familiar exchanges and employ similar storage techniques. This pattern is too consistent to be coincidental. Arkham believes these coins are also associated with Movie2K, yet never placed under state control.
DISCOVER: Top New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025
An Expensive Oversight?
Some individuals are beginning to scrutinize how the initial seizure was conducted. At the time, German laws mandated a rapid sale, partly to mitigate financial risk. However, with the surge in BTC prices, that decision now seems more like a lost opportunity. If those additional coins do indeed belong to Movie2K, and the authorities overlooked them, that’s billions left unclaimed.
DISCOVER: 20+ Next Cryptos Expected to Surge in 2025
The Complexity of Crypto Seizures
Even if Arkham’s analysis is accurate, German prosecutors cannot simply confiscate the coins. They first require substantial evidence in court proving that these assets are linked to illicit activities. Even then, they must gain access to the wallets.
If the private keys are in the possession of someone overseas or completely off the grid, it may be impossible to recover the coins. That’s the challenging aspect of digital currencies — ownership and access do not always align.
What Comes Next
Germany may still pursue claiming the coins, but it will not be straightforward. This would entail further investigation, legal actions, and likely cooperation from other nations. Their decision to follow this course depends on how much potential value they believe is worth pursuing.
Regardless, this situation serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of enforcing crypto regulations, even when the stakes are exceptionally high.
DISCOVER: 20+ Next Cryptos Expected to Surge in 2025
Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord For The Latest Market Updates
Key Insights
- Germany confiscated and sold nearly 50,000 BTC from Movie2K in 2024, but recent findings indicate another 45,000 Bitcoin may have been overlooked.
- Blockchain analysis firm Arkham uncovered over 100 untouched wallets associated with the same activities, raising concerns over whether the complete stash was recovered.
- If the additional coins are indeed related to Movie2K, Germany may have inadvertently allowed over $5 billion in Bitcoin to slip past unnoticed.
- German prosecutors would require strong evidence and access to the private keys before they could legally claim any of the remaining Bitcoin.
- This case emphasizes the difficulty in fully tracking and reclaiming crypto, even when authorities believe the task has been completed.
The article Germany May Have Missed Seizing $5B in Bitcoin from Movie2K first appeared on 99Bitcoins.
