Germany May Have Missed Seizing $5B in Bitcoin from Movie2K
German officials thought they had wrapped up one of the biggest crypto cases in the country’s history when they seized and sold nearly 50,000 Bitcoin tied to the piracy platform Movie2K. But a new investigation is raising eyebrows. It turns out there might be another massive stash that was completely overlooked.
There Might Be More Where That Came From
In early 2024, German police took control of Bitcoin surrendered by Movie2K’s operators. Those coins were auctioned off for nearly $3 billion. At the time, it seemed like a done deal. Now, with Bitcoin’s price way up, those coins would be worth far more. And according to blockchain firm Arkham, that original stash might not have been the full picture.
In 2024, one of the operators of the streaming website Movie2k handed over 50,000 BTC voluntarily to the German
government, even though there weren’t any charges yet.
While the German government sold the coins long ago, it now turns out that the operator likely still holds… pic.twitter.com/WlGTgck43r
— CR1337 (@cryptonator1337) September 7, 2025
The Clues Are in the Wallets
Arkham tracked down over 100 additional wallets that still hold around 45,000 Bitcoin. These wallets have been quiet since 2019 and follow the same patterns as the ones that were seized. They all link back to the same old exchanges and use similar storage methods. None of this looks random. Arkham is convinced these coins are connected to Movie2K, too, just never brought under state control.
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A Pricey Mistake?
Some people are starting to question how the original seizure was handled. At the time, German law required a quick sale, partly to avoid financial risk. But with Bitcoin prices soaring, that move is starting to look more like a missed opportunity. If those extra coins really do belong to Movie2K, and the government missed them, that’s billions left on the table.
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Seizing Crypto Is Not So Simple
Even if Arkham is right, German prosecutors can’t just take the coins. They would first need solid proof in court that these funds are connected to criminal activity. And even then, they’d have to actually get access to the wallets.
If the private keys are held by someone abroad or totally off the radar, the coins might be out of reach for good. That’s the tricky part about digital assets — ownership and access don’t always go hand in hand.
What Happens Now
Germany could still try to claim the coins, but it won’t be easy. It would mean more digging, legal steps, and probably help from other countries. Whether they go down that path depends on how much value they think is worth chasing.
Either way, this situation is a sharp reminder of how complicated crypto enforcement can be, even when the stakes are sky high.
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Key Takeaways
- Germany seized and sold nearly 50,000 Bitcoin from Movie2K in 2024, but new data suggests another 45,000 BTC may have been missed.
- Blockchain firm Arkham found over 100 untouched wallets tied to the same activity, raising doubts about whether the full stash was recovered.
- If the extra coins are linked to Movie2K, Germany may have let more than $5 billion in Bitcoin slip through without noticing.
- German prosecutors would need solid proof and access to the private keys before they could legally seize any of the remaining Bitcoin.
- The case highlights how hard it is to fully track and recover crypto, even when authorities think the job is done.
The post Germany May Have Missed Seizing $5B in Bitcoin from Movie2K appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
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