The U.S. government is increasingly acknowledging Bitcoin’s significance—though it may not be as bold as some anticipated.

On Thursday, President Trump endorsed an Executive Order that creates a **Strategic Bitcoin Reserve** and a **U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile**.

This action formally classifies Bitcoin as a reserve asset, similar to gold. Nevertheless, it does not imply that the government will be actively buying Bitcoin. Per the White House’s announcement, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve will derive its funding from Bitcoin already held by the U.S. Treasury—particularly Bitcoin acquired through criminal or civil asset forfeiture.

“The United States will not sell Bitcoin placed into this Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which will serve as a reserve asset repository,” the Order proclaims.

For a video of Trump signing the order—while apparently encountering it for the first time—refer below:

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The Order also provides the Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce with the power to formulate **budget-neutral strategies** for procuring additional Bitcoin, provided these strategies do not create extra costs for taxpayers. While the specific nature of these strategies remains uncertain, this provision fosters hope among Bitcoin supporters that the U.S. government may amass more Bitcoin moving forward.

### The U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile

The Executive Order further creates a **U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile**, which includes non-Bitcoin digital assets seized by the Treasury Department through forfeiture actions.

However, the Order specifies that the government **will not** seek out additional assets for this stockpile outside those retrieved through forfeiture. In other words, the U.S. government is not poised to invest in altcoins anytime soon.

### A Costly Mistake?

Since its debut 15 years ago, Bitcoin’s price has predominantly risen. By liquidating Bitcoin it had previously seized, the U.S. government might have bypassed considerable profits. According to the White House, “premature sales of Bitcoin have already cost U.S. taxpayers over **$17 billion**.”

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Newly appointed **crypto czar David Sacks** estimates that the U.S. government currently retains **approximately 200,000 BTC**. One duty of the recently established **Crypto Task Force** will be to audit and evaluate the government’s overall cryptocurrency portfolio.

While this development indicates a more organized strategy toward digital assets, it is still unclear how the U.S. plans to utilize its Bitcoin holdings in the future.