Treasury Secretary Clarifies Bitcoin Reserve Position After Market Confusion
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Thursday that his department continues exploring budget-neutral methods to acquire Bitcoin for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The clarification came after earlier comments triggered a sharp Bitcoin price decline and widespread confusion about the government's cryptocurrency strategy.
According to Cointelegraph, Bessent stated on social media that "Treasury is committed to exploring budget-neutral pathways to acquire more Bitcoin to expand the reserve." His comments directly addressed market concerns after Bitcoin dropped from $121,073 to $118,886 within 40 minutes of his earlier FOX Business interview.
During the television appearance, Bessent had said "We're not going to be buying that, but we are going to use confiscated assets and continue to build that up." Market participants interpreted these remarks as abandoning plans for additional Bitcoin purchases. The confusion wiped nearly $55 billion from Bitcoin's market capitalization before the Treasury Secretary issued his clarification.
Bessent confirmed that Bitcoin forfeited from federal criminal cases will form the foundation of the reserve. He also stated the government plans to halt sales of existing holdings, saying simply "We're going to stop selling." The Treasury Secretary estimated current holdings between $15 billion and $20 billion, aligning with BitBo data showing 198,012 Bitcoin worth approximately $23.5 billion.
Why Government Bitcoin Strategy Matters for Markets
The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve represents a fundamental shift in how the US government views cryptocurrency assets. President Trump established the reserve through executive order on March 6, 2025, positioning Bitcoin as a permanent store of value alongside traditional commodities like gold and oil.
The White House emphasized that Bitcoin's fixed supply of 21 million coins creates "a strategic advantage to being among the first nations to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve." The administration noted that premature sales of seized Bitcoin have already cost US taxpayers over $17 billion in potential value.
Budget-neutral acquisition strategies prevent additional costs to taxpayers while allowing strategic accumulation. The executive order specifically authorizes Treasury and Commerce secretaries to develop methods that "impose no incremental costs on American taxpayers." These strategies include using tariff revenue and revaluing Treasury gold certificates.
Bo Hines, Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, outlined specific approaches in April 2025. CryptoSlate reported Hines suggesting unlimited Bitcoin accumulation, comparing it to gold reserves where countries want "as much as they can possibly accumulate."
Market participants view government Bitcoin holdings as validation of cryptocurrency's long-term viability. The reserve strategy removes selling pressure from government auctions while adding institutional legitimacy to Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
Federal Strategy Reflects Broader Government Adoption Trend
The Treasury's Bitcoin reserve expansion aligns with growing government interest in cryptocurrency holdings across multiple levels. We reported that 15 US states have begun taking steps toward establishing government-owned Bitcoin reserves, following Pennsylvania's leadership in introducing the first state-level reserve bill in November 2024.
States including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming are now pursuing similar legislation. This state-level movement demonstrates widespread government recognition of Bitcoin's potential as a strategic asset.
The federal approach differs from Senator Cynthia Lummis's proposed BITCOIN Act, which calls for purchasing one million Bitcoin over five years. The Treasury's budget-neutral strategy avoids congressional spending approval while achieving similar strategic objectives through asset conversion and forfeiture proceeds.
International competition adds urgency to US Bitcoin accumulation efforts. Early government adoption provides advantages in technological leadership and global financial influence. Countries establishing Bitcoin reserves position themselves as progressive financial jurisdictions during the transition toward digital monetary systems.
Treasury Secretary Bessent's clarification removes uncertainty about continued government Bitcoin acquisition. Despite Thursday's market volatility, the confirmed strategy maintains the administration's commitment to making America the "Bitcoin superpower of the world" through systematic reserve expansion without taxpayer burden.
