Key Takeaways
- David Sacks says the U.S. can expand its Bitcoin reserve if done budget-neutrally.
- The government currently holds about 200,000 BTC from forfeiture cases.
- Trump's administration has enacted several Bitcoin-friendly policies in its first 100 days.
Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, White House crypto czar David Sacks shared how the U.S. government could expand its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve beyond the 200,000 BTC already seized through forfeitures.
Executive order & acquisition strategy
President Trump signed an executive order on March 6 establishing the reserve.
While current holdings come from previously seized bitcoin, the order permits further acquisition if done without increasing the national debt.
Sacks explained that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have the authority to use surplus funds from existing programs to make new purchases.
Sacks said:
The executive order… does allow the government to purchase more if it can be done in a budget-neutral way.
Options under discussion include using surplus funds from the Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund, selling IMF-issued special drawing rights, or revaluing gold certificates.
Evaluation & findings
The Treasury Department had a 60-day deadline to evaluate these options, which expired on May 5, but has yet to release public findings.
Trump administration’s first 100 days
Sacks also reviewed Trump administration actions in its first 100 days: pardoning Ross Ulbricht, banning central bank digital currencies, ending Operation Choke Point 2.0, and rolling back regulatory guidance such as the IRS’s DeFi broker rule and SAB 121.
A stablecoin bill (GENIUS Act) and market structure legislation are expected before August.
Focus on Bitcoin mining expansion
Additionally, the administration is focusing on expanding U.S. bitcoin mining through increased energy production and permitting reforms.
Sacks said:
If we can fund it without a new tax or debt, then we could potentially acquire more bitcoin.
