Bitcoin expert reveals: How the US is buying billions of BTC

From cypherpunk experiment to global financial instrument: Bitcoin has traveled an unprecedented path over the past 16 years. What began as a nerdy project in crypto forums was finally catapulted into the mainstream in 2024 with the approval of several Bitcoin ETFs. At the same time, more and more Bitcoin treasury companies are emerging with the clear goal of accumulating as much BTC as possible. The next logical step in this development would be for governments to also begin using Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

Senator Lummis and her Bitcoin plan

In the United States, there are already increasing voices from politics and business communities welcoming a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Politicians like Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming are proposing establishing BTC as a national asset, similar to gold. She is promoting this with the so-called BITCOIN Act, a legislative proposal that calls for the purchase of one million BTC over five years. In general, Lummis advocates budget-neutral Bitcoin purchases, so that no additional debt is required. But what options are there for acquiring the crypto reserve currency “neutrally”?

The BITCOIN Act is back. pic.twitter.com/WNeU6SWPj3

— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) March 11, 2025

How the US could buy Bitcoin in a budget-neutral way

The idea sounds unusual at first: Adam Livingston, author of “The Bitcoin Age and The Great Harvest,” proposes that the US use a portion of its tariff surpluses as a budget source to build a strategic Bitcoin reserve. But he also cites some numbers: “As of July, we collected $135.7 billion in tariffs—double what we collected last year. Let me reiterate, we're sitting on a $70 billion tariff surplus, and we haven't even finished the fiscal year yet,” Livingston says. This way, new Bitcoin could be accumulated without incurring debt or burdening the budget.

This proposal would fit Trump's policies. By executive order, the US president established a Bitcoin reserve that only allows budget-neutral acquisitions. His tariff offensive against China and other countries is generating billions in revenue, at least in the short term. According to Bo Hines, former White House crypto advisor, these funds could also be used budget-neutrally to accumulate Bitcoin. Other approaches would also be possible, including revaluing gold reserves, which have so far been recorded below market value, or selling off the strategic oil reserve.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on the other hand, is sending mixed signals: First, he stated last week that the US government would not purchase BTC in principle, but would only use confiscated BTC for the reserve. He later corrected himself, however, saying: His department is indeed exploring various budget-neutral options.

Bitcoin that has finally been forfeited to the federal government will be the foundation of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve that President Trump established in his March Executive Order.

In addition, Treasury is committed to exploring budget-neutral pathways to acquire more…

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) August 14, 2025

How many Bitcoin does the US own?

According to Arkham Intelligence, the US currently holds approximately 198,000 BTC, valued at approximately $22.86 billion. However, there were rumors that the previous US administration sold 80 percent of these holdings. “I am troubled by reports that the US has sold over 80 percent of its Bitcoin reserves—leaving it with only approximately 29,000 coins. If true, this is a total strategic error and sets the United States back years in the Bitcoin race,” commented Senator Lummis.

However, Arkham has since refuted this claim, stating that the Bitcoin holdings are spread across multiple agencies, including the FBI, the DOJ, the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney's Office—not just the U.S. Marshals Service, as previous reports suggested.

From tariff revenues to gold revaluations to oil reserves, several budget-neutral models are under discussion that the US could use to expand its Bitcoin holdings. Whether this becomes a long-term reserve asset similar to gold ultimately depends on policymakers. For crypto investors, however, the debate alone signals that Bitcoin has reached the very highest level.

Recommended Video Altcoin Season: Why Most Are Wrong