U.S. Marshals Service auctions off over 4,000 BTC to two winning bidders

The U.S. Marshals Service has auctioned off over 4,000 bitcoins to two winning bidders, according to a spokesperson for the agency.

On Feb. 18, the Marshals Service put up 4,040.54069820 bitcoins – worth approximately $39 million at press time – on the auction block. The auction featured four lots – 2,500 BTC, 1,000 BTC, 500 BTC, and 40.54069820 BTC – that were up for grabs.

A USMS spokesperson person told The Block that two bidders "won quantities totaling 50 bitcoins and approximately 3991.6 bitcoins" during the event. Eighteen bidders registered for the auction, and 38 bids were received over the course of the event.

"The bitcoin transfers to the winners have been completed," the spokesperson added.

This is not the first time that the Marshals Service has held a bitcoin auction. In 2014, it sold almost 30,000 BTC across 10 auction blocks to investor Tim Draper. The agency has held a series of bitcoin auctions since that time, including a 660 BTC auction in November 2018.