U.S. Considering Potential Bitcoin Purchases According to Bessent's Statement
The U.S. Treasury, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, has announced its commitment to expanding the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through budget-neutral pathways. The reserve, primarily built from Bitcoin seized through criminal and civil asset forfeitures, currently holds a value of about $15–20 billion.
In a recent social media post, Bessent stated that the government will not be purchasing Bitcoin outright using new funds, but is actively exploring creative, budget-neutral ways to acquire more Bitcoin. Potential methods under consideration include mechanisms such as tariffs or a gold revaluation to fund acquisitions without increasing the federal budget or deficit.
This approach aligns with President Trump's March 2025 executive order establishing the reserve and directing Commerce and Treasury to develop ways to replenish it without taxpayer expense.
The U.S.'s potential for additional Bitcoin purchases has been a topic of interest in the cryptocurrency market, with Michael Saylor, the executive chairman of business intelligence firm Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), dismissing Bitcoin's recent plunge as "the gift to the faithful."
Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Lummis has reintroduced the BITCOIN Act, proposing that the U.S. purchase up to one million Bitcoins over five years for strategic reserves, though this legislation remains separate from Treasury’s current budget-neutral acquisition plans.
Bitcoin's price has been affected by Bessent's latest statement, with the cryptocurrency reaching a new all-time high of $124,517 earlier this week, followed by an intraday low of $117,201 earlier on Thursday. The current trading price of Bitcoin, as reported by U.Today, is $118,156.
However, Bessent's statement has caused confusion within the cryptocurrency community, as it contradicts his earlier comment that suggested no additional Bitcoin purchases. Some members of the community have expressed dismay, while others see it as reopening the possibility of Bitcoin buys.
The volatility of Bitcoin continues to be a significant factor in its price movements. As the U.S. Treasury continues to explore budget-neutral pathways for acquiring more Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency community will be closely watching for further developments.
[1] Bitcoin Magazine. (2025). U.S. Treasury to Expand Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. [online] Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/us-treasury-to-expand-strategic-bitcoin-reserve
[2] CoinDesk. (2025). U.S. Treasury to Explore Budget-Neutral Pathways for Bitcoin Purchases. [online] Available at: https://www.coindesk.com/us-treasury-to-explore-budget-neutral-pathways-for-bitcoin-purchases
[3] Forbes. (2025). U.S. Treasury Committed to Finding Budget-Neutral Pathways for Bitcoin Acquisition. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbrett/2025/03/25/us-treasury-committed-to-finding-budget-neutral-pathways-for-bitcoin-acquisition/
[4] Yahoo Finance. (2025). U.S. Treasury to Consider Tariffs and Gold Revaluation for Bitcoin Purchases. [online] Available at: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-treasury-consider-tariffs-gold-revaluation-170000793.html
[5] The Wall Street Journal. (2025). U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Grows as Treasury Seeks Budget-Neutral Pathways. [online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-grows-as-treasury-seeks-budget-neutral-pathways-11677943437
- The U.S. Treasury, under Secretary Scott Bessent, is actively exploring budget-neutral ways for acquiring more Bitcoin, such as through tariffs or a gold revaluation, aligning with President Trump's March 2025 executive order.
- The potential methods for Bitcoin acquisition by the U.S. government, as announced by Bessent, have sparked interest within the cryptocurrency market, with some viewing it as potentially reopening the possibility of Bitcoin buys by the government.
- The volatility of Bitcoin's price continues to be a significant factor, with the cryptocurrency's price affected by Bessent's latest statement, reaching a new all-time high of $124,517, followed by an intraday low of $117,201, and currently trading at $118,156, as reported by U.Today.
