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March 7, 2025 by Kashif Saleem
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order making Bitcoin the sole U.S. strategic digital asset reserve.
- The U.S. government holds 198,109 BTC ($17.33B) and aims to expand reserves without taxpayer burden.
- A digital asset stockpile will include XRP, Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano, but no expansion planned.
On March 7, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order that cements Bitcoin as the United States’ sole strategic digital asset reserve while establishing a national stockpile for XRP and select altcoins. The directive marks a sharp shift in federal policy toward digital assets, aiming to safeguard and maximize government-held crypto holdings.
According to the order, the U.S. government’s Bitcoin reserve will exclusively hold BTC, a move that underscores the administration’s confidence in the world’s largest cryptocurrency. David Sacks, White House AI & Crypto Czar, stated that the government will not be using taxpayer funds for this initiative. Instead, the reserve will be funded using nearly 200,000 BTC that the government acquired through criminal and civil forfeiture cases.
Just a few minutes ago, President Trump signed an Executive Order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The Reserve will be capitalized with Bitcoin owned by the federal government that was forfeited as part of criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. This means it…
The U.S. government holds 198,109 BTC ($17.33 billion) and 750.22 wBTC ($65.52 million). The Trump administration aims to expand reserves without burdening taxpayers. Trump has directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to find budget-neutral ways to acquire more BTC.
Altcoins in the U.S. Digital Stockpile
Beyond Bitcoin, the order also mandates the establishment of a separate digital asset stockpile for select altcoins. Sacks confirmed FOX Business journalist Eleanor Terrett’s report that it will include XRP, Solana (SOL), Ethereum (ETH), and Cardano (ADA)—cryptocurrencies Trump mentioned over the weekend.
Terrett clarified that the government will not seek to expand the stockpile but will explore budget-neutral Bitcoin acquisitions. The move signals a cautious approach to digital assets while prioritizing Bitcoin as the primary reserve currency.
The inclusion of XRP in the national stockpile has sparked speculation about a possible government acquisition. Analyst Blockchain Backer questioned reports of a strategic crypto reserve involving XRP, Solana, and Cardano, pointing out that the U.S. government lacks significant holdings of those assets.
Cryptoscot speculated that the government may soon acquire XRP through Ripple’s ongoing legal battle with the SEC. If Ripple settles for $125 million in XRP, federal holdings of the cryptocurrency could rise. Meanwhile, Analyst Moon Lambo suggested the government might already own small amounts of XRP, Cardano, and Solana from forfeiture cases. While possible, he noted that any holdings are likely too small to be strategic.
Government Audit to Assess Full Crypto Holdings
The executive order also mandates a full audit of all government-owned digital assets within 30 days. This review will assess the total extent of U.S. crypto holdings and ensure the proper transfer of assets into their designated reserves.
With Trump’s latest directive, the United States is taking a bold stance on digital assets, prioritizing Bitcoin as a financial stronghold while acknowledging the importance of altcoins like XRP in government stockpiles. While the move introduces uncertainty regarding the future role of altcoins, it marks a turning point in the country’s approach to cryptocurrency.
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