The U.S. Marshals Service said it received 27 bids in an auction for 50,000 bitcoin that were seized last year as part of the government shutdown of Silk Road, an online black market.

It said the auction, which was held on Thursday, drew 11 registered bidders for the bitcoin, which were being sold in 20 blocks. Bidders were permitted to bid on multiple groups of the bitcoin.

“Bids...