Catenaa, Friday, March 08, 2025-President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday creating a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, ensuring the government’s Bitcoin holdings are maintained as a strategic asset similar to gold in Fort Knox.
The reserve will be funded with Bitcoin seized in criminal and civil forfeitures, preventing any taxpayer burden, according to White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks. The US currently holds 198,109 BTC, valued at about $17 billion.
Sacks said the government will not sell Bitcoin from the reserve, keeping it as a long-term store of value. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are authorized to explore budget-neutral methods for increasing Bitcoin reserves without impacting taxpayers.
The order also establishes a US Digital Asset Stockpile for other forfeited cryptocurrencies, though the government will not acquire additional assets beyond seizures.
The move follows Trump’s announcement of a broader “crypto strategic reserve,” which included Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano—raising questions from industry experts over the selection of some assets.
The order comes ahead of a Washington summit where crypto executives will meet with the administration. Bitcoin’s price fell 3.5% to $85,777 following the announcement, according to The Block’s market data.
