US To Conduct Full Audit Of Bitcoin Holdings Following Strategic Reserve Executive Order

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The United States government is preparing to conduct a full review of its cryptocurrency holdings following the creation of a strategic Bitcoin BTC/USD reserve and a separate stockpile of other digital assets.

A senior White House official disclosed this ahead of a key industry summit, emphasizing that the audit will provide a clearer picture of how much cryptocurrency the government currently holds, according to Bloomberg.

What Happened: The newly-established reserve will be funded using bitcoin obtained through legal forfeitures, rather than taxpayer funds.

Alongside this, the government will maintain a separate stockpile of digital assets seized through similar proceedings.

While the Bitcoin reserve may be expanded over time, the stockpile of other digital currencies will not be actively increased beyond what has already been forfeited.

According to the official, the government once held approximately 400,000 Bitcoin, largely acquired after the shutdown of Silk Road, a well-known illicit online marketplace.

Over the years, about half of those holdings were sold, leaving the government with an estimated 200,000 Bitcoin.

Blockchain analytics firm Arkham estimates the current value of these holdings at around 17.5 billion dollars, along with an additional 400 million dollars in various other digital assets.

The executive order grants authority to the Treasury and Commerce Departments to explore strategies for acquiring more bitcoin in a budget-neutral manner, meaning it will not result in additional costs for taxpayers.

The government does not intend to acquire more digital assets for the stockpile beyond those obtained through legal seizures.

Also Read: Bitcoin Unbothered By ‘One-Time Price Adjustment’ From Tariffs As Treasury Sec Bessent Assures ‘Smooth Transition’

Why It Matters: This announcement comes ahead of a major White House gathering scheduled for later on Friday, where industry leaders will discuss the administration’s evolving stance on digital assets.

Coinbase COIN CEO Brian Armstrong, Bitcoin proponent Michael Saylor, and Robinhood HOOD CEO Vlad Tenev are among those expected to attend.

The event is expected to outline a clearer direction for the role of digital currencies in the US financial system.

Trump has positioned himself as a strong advocate for the cryptocurrency industry, in stark contrast to the approach of the previous administration, which increased regulatory scrutiny following the collapse of FTX.

Over recent weeks, there has been growing momentum in favor of crypto-friendly policies.

Lawmakers in Congress have introduced proposals aimed at supporting the industry, and financial regulators appointed by Trump have taken steps to ease enforcement actions.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has also moved to close or suspend more than 10 investigations and lawsuits related to digital assets, signaling a shift in regulatory priorities.

While Trump has previously spoken about wide-ranging plans to boost the cryptocurrency sector, his executive actions so far have largely focused on policy signaling and strategic appointments.

With the launch of the strategic Bitcoin reserve, the industry is watching closely for further regulatory changes that could shape the future of digital assets in the United States.

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