President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to evaluate whether the U.S. should establish a national stockpile of digital assets, per NBC News. One of Trump’s promises during his campaign was to create a “strategic Bitcoin reserve” similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
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The order partly delivers on his promise, signaling changes are beginning to happen. Here’s how economists think a national Bitcoin stockpile could impact the economy.
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As of November 2024, the U.S. government owned over 207,000 Bitcoin, according to Forbes. And increasing its holdings via a reserve could impact inflation, according to experts.
“The government can keep doing what it is currently doing, holding Bitcoin, but create a policy to keep it as a strategic Bitcoin reserve. This policy shift would signal to the market that it’s not looking to liquidate. In response, the market would likely send Bitcoin price higher and increase the asset value, which, in turn, would increase the spending power for millions of Americans,” said Neil Bergquist, CEO and co-founder of Coinme.
James Toledano, chief operating officer of Unity Wallet, thinks that a strategic Bitcoin reserve will act as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. “This strategy could enhance national financial stability, potentially leading to a stronger economy and more robust currency. It will also offer diversification beyond traditional assets like gold, silver and foreign currencies,” he said.
“Should Trump decide to leverage this stash as the foundation for a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve, it could mark a pivotal shift in our economic landscape. Not only would this move diversify our national reserve with an asset that has historically decoupled from traditional markets, but it could also serve as a subtle yet effective tool in fighting inflation,” said William Zielke, chief revenue officer of BitPay.
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Since the U.S. government is among the largest Bitcoin holders globally, establishing a reserve could accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrency.
“If Bitcoin were adopted as a national reserve in the U.S., it could accelerate cryptocurrency adoption within the economy. Businesses might integrate crypto payments more actively, leading to innovations in cross-border transactions, with cryptocurrencies taking on a role similar to gold in the past,” said Anton Chashchin, founder of N7 Capital.
