U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reversed his earlier position and said the government may buy more Bitcoin for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, opening the door to increasing holdings beyond seized funds.
Bessent posted on X that the government will use forfeited Bitcoin as the base for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve that President Trump created in his March Executive Order.
Treasury plans budget-neutral purchases to grow Bitcoin reserve
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Treasury wants to add more Bitcoin to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve without using new taxpayer money or compromising its financial responsibility.
More acquisitions would increase government holdings and improve national influence in international cryptocurrency markets. The U.S. could stand out as a model for other countries exploring cryptocurrency adoption by holding and increasing Bitcoin reserves.
Treasury officials could use previously forfeited assets, reallocate existing resources, or employ other creative financial mechanisms that do not burden taxpayers to acquire more Bitcoin without drawing new funds from Congress. This careful approach highlights how government agencies are learning to operate in a fast-moving and complex digital market by balancing between growing the reserve to meet strategic goals and protecting the public’s financial interests.
Analysts believe budget-neutral pathways can strengthen the reserve over time and create a more stable foundation for future growth by allowing the government to respond to market fluctuations and seize opportunities when they arise. The announcement shows how quickly government policy on digital assets can change because it comes just a day after Bessent had said that the U.S. would not purchase Bitcoin.
Given Bitcoin’s volatility and the high stakes involved in managing a national digital asset reserve, this shift reassures investors that any acquisitions will be conducted with careful planning and clear intent.
Strategic reserve holds forfeited Bitcoin under Trump’s order
The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was officially created through President Trump’s March Executive Order to establish a formal structure for managing digital assets within the U.S. Treasury by holding only Bitcoin forfeited to the federal government. The administration aimed to ensure that the funds were accounted for and separated from other digital or traditional financial assets by creating a clear and controlled mechanism for storing and potentially using government-held Bitcoin.
Treasury officials previously estimated that the Strategic Reserve contained between $15 billion and $20 billion worth of Bitcoin, all of which came from seized funds. The reserve’s focus on Bitcoin shows the coin’s status as the most widely recognized digital asset and the administration’s goal of establishing a strong foundation for the country’s strategic digital holdings.
The reserve remains primarily focused on Bitcoin, although the Trump administration considered an initiative to add other digital assets, such as Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano, as part of an expanded digital asset strategy.
Though specific plans have not yet been disclosed, White House crypto advisor David Sacks said Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick would have to look for ways to look for ways to add more Bitcoin to the reserve. This cautious approach ensures new acquisitions do not require additional taxpayer funding and are implemented in a controlled and transparent by prioritizing financial responsibility and careful planning.
Bitcoin is trading around $119,000 from $124,000 after Bessent’s announcement, which shows that even though the announcement was from a policy perspective, investors are cautious and waiting to see how this will turn out.
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