How can they claim to sell assets when the trial has not even started ?
Read the announcement: Ross agreed to the sale.
Yes, I should have read it, DPR agreed to the sale, quoting:
WHEREAS, the Government and Ulbricht agree that, due to the volatile market for bitcoins, the Computer Hardware
Bitcoins risk losing value during the pendency of the forfeiture proceedings;
WHEREAS, the Government and Ulbricht agree that the Computer Hardware Bitcoins are to be liquidated or sold by the
Government before the conclusion of the forfeiture proceedings, with the net proceeds of the sale to be held as
substitute res pending further order of this Court;
A crypto-god, he's the reason these btc are worth any real $$$, Ross Ulbricht (founder of original Silk Road)
. 
