Rasmussen, in his social media post, explained how the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve will pressure other nations, financial institutions, and wealth managers to adapt to the new digital currency ecosystem or risk being left behind. “The market is grossly underestimating the long-term impact of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,” he warned.
The initiative, signed into existence by President Donald Trump on March 6, is designed to position the United States as a leader in digital asset strategy. The reserve will be funded with around 200,000 BTC, valued at approximately $17 billion, seized from criminal and civil forfeitures. This move, which will not incur additional taxpayer costs, highlights the administration’s commitment to integrating digital assets into the national financial framework. Additionally, other cryptocurrencies obtained in a similar manner will be included in a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, under the management of the Treasury Department.
Rasmussen turned his attention to the corporate world’s growing interest in digital currencies on March 11. He underscored a significant surge in corporate BTC acquisitions, with public companies purchasing double the amount of bitcoin in 2024 than in all previous years combined. “These 70+ companies now own a combined $52 billion worth of bitcoin, which equates to 3% of the total supply,” he noted. He further added, “Companies buy bitcoin for the same reason people do. And for the same reason governments will.”
Beyond this, Rasmussen emphasized the wider implications of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. He asserted that it would not only encourage other countries to follow the U.S.’s lead but also eliminate obstacles for wealth managers, financial institutions, pensions, and endowments.
His vision of the end game is not that the U.S. government will hoard all the world’s bitcoin. Instead, the creation of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve signifies a shift in the international financial landscape. Countries, wealth managers, and financial institutions will have no valid reason not to adopt bitcoin. Fear of the U.S. selling off its holdings will dissipate, and the likelihood of the U.S. buying more will increase. The probability of states purchasing bitcoin will rise, and the chance of the government outlawing bitcoin will be definitively zero.
Rasmussen concluded by advising a wider viewpoint on the matter. “Zoom out,” he urged, underscoring that the role of bitcoin in global finance is still in its nascent stages and is yet to fully unfold. This development indicates a significant shift in the global financial landscape, and all eyes are now on how stakeholders will respond.
