[auggierose]

They've seized the file, but don't have the key. So, they haven't seized anything really, as I am pretty sure the guy has a copy of that file.

[grlass]

If he doesn't have a copy of the file, then even if the cops can't access it, semantically they could be said to have seized them?

[tyingq]

He might know the 12 word key phrase. https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Brainwallet

[heckerhut]

Sure, ok, so they have an encrypted version of the private key!?

[auggierose]

From the Wiki:

> The wallet.dat file is located in the Bitcoin data directory and may be encrypted with a password.

I guess they have the encrypted wallet.dat, but not the password for decrypting it.

[realce]

Obviously it has been seized. They put it in the /police/property/seized dir and therefore it is the government's!

[tonyedgecombe]

More likely C:\Users\OfficerDibble\Desktop\

[miked85]

If you have a paper wallet or memorized it, that file doesn't really matter though. Nothing was seized other than encrypted data.