Bitcoin Journal CEO David Bailey has urged that President-elect Donald Trump might elevate Bitcoin to the standing of a “strategic reserve asset” with out requiring approval from Congress.
In a Nov. 15 assertion on X, Bailey urged that the President might use govt authority to provoke a nationwide Bitcoin reserve. In response to unnamed consultants he cited, this might be executed independently, sidestepping the necessity for legislative backing.
Bailey indicated that such a transfer might contain the US authorities launching an bold BTC acquisition program value tens of billions of {dollars}, mirroring the technique pioneered by MicroStrategy. The corporate is the most important public Bitcoin holder and has amassed over 279,000 BTC, valued at over $25 billion.
Nonetheless, Bailey conceded that bigger purchases might require Congress’s approval. Historically, the US Treasury Division, in coordination with the Federal Reserve, has major authority over managing the nation’s reserve property.
Bitcoin reserve sparks debate
The concept of a US Bitcoin reserve has dominated discussions throughout the broader crypto group. Throughout his marketing campaign in July, Trump addressed this idea on the Bitcoin 2024 convention, pledging to retain the federal government’s current Bitcoin holdings, estimated at over 200,000 BTC.
Quickly after, Senator Cynthia Lummis launched a bill advocating increasing these reserves. The proposal outlines a plan for the federal government to buy as much as 200,000 BTC yearly over 5 years, probably accumulating 1 million BTC—representing roughly 5% of the highest asset’s complete provide. Lummis expressed optimism that the laws might go throughout the first 100 days of Trump’s second time period.
Supporters argue that treating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset might solidify its repute as “digital gold,” enhancing its position as a instrument for financial resilience. They imagine it might additionally strengthen the US monetary place and encourage broader adoption of Bitcoin worldwide.
Michael Saylor, govt chairman of MicroStrategy and a widely known Bitcoin advocate, sees important potential for such a coverage. In a latest CNBC interview, he claimed {that a} nationwide Bitcoin reserve might assist handle the US ballooning debt disaster because the rising worth of Bitcoin would possibly allow the federal government to offset as much as $16 trillion in debt.
Nonetheless, not everybody helps the thought of a nationwide Bitcoin reserve. Critics like Miles Jennings, the Basic Counsel and Head of Decentralization at a16z crypto, argue that such a transfer might result in a wealth switch from taxpayers to Bitcoin holders. He said:
“A Bitcoin Strategic Reserve is a switch of wealth from the U.S. authorities to holders of BTC. No capital positive aspects taxes on crypto is a switch of wealth from the U.S. authorities to holders of crypto. These are the priorities of profiteers, not entrepreneurs.”
Jennings’ argument urged that authorities investments in Bitcoin might inflate its worth, in the end enriching present BTC holders on the expense of public funds.
