Trump signs executive order to establish U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve and digital asset stockpile

By: Shawn
In a significant move for the crypto industry, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday evening to authorize the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve and a digital asset stockpile. David Sacks, the White House’s AI and crypto czar, shared the news on X, emphasizing that the initiative underscores President Trump’s determination to position the U.S. as the global "crypto capital."

President Donald Trump.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

The executive order will not involve the U.S. government purchasing Bitcoin to create the reserve. Instead, the reserve will be funded by Bitcoin already seized through criminal and civil forfeitures. Currently, the U.S. holds approximately 200,000 Bitcoin, valued at around $17.4 billion. Sacks described the reserve as a "digital Fort Knox," reflecting Bitcoin's status as the "digital gold."

Following the announcement, Bitcoin's value initially fell by more than 5%, dropping below $85,000, but later rebounded to $88,000 within two hours.

In addition to Bitcoin, the U.S. will also establish a digital asset stockpile, which will include cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin that have been seized through forfeitures. Sacks did not disclose the total value of these assets or specify which cryptocurrencies would be included. However, President Trump had previously mentioned that the stockpile could encompass other major cryptocurrencies like XRP, Cardano, Solana, and Ethereum.

Sacks reinforced that Trump's commitment to a U.S. crypto reserve, which he promised at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, has now been fulfilled. At that event, Trump had likened the proposed Bitcoin reserve to the U.S. gold holdings at Fort Knox, highlighting the importance of securing the nation's cryptocurrency assets. While the U.S. Marshals Service has periodically sold Bitcoin seized in criminal cases, creating a large-scale reserve is seen as a significant step for the industry.

This announcement comes after months of speculation about whether Trump would follow through on his campaign promises to the crypto community. Throughout his presidential campaign, he courted crypto billionaires and secured donations from key industry figures, including Jesse Powell, co-founder of Kraken, and the Winklevoss twins, co-founders of Gemini.

After winning the election, Trump appointed David Sacks as the AI and crypto czar and enacted several pro-crypto measures. In his latest statement about the strategic Bitcoin reserve, Sacks noted that the U.S. government is authorized to develop strategies for acquiring more Bitcoin without affecting the national budget. However, he did not specify whether the government would be allowed to purchase additional cryptocurrencies for the stockpile.

Sacks’s announcement solidifies the administration’s commitment to supporting the growth of digital assets, ensuring that Trump’s campaign promises to the crypto sector are fully realized.

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