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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to establish a Strategic Crypto Reserve—but don’t expect XRP, Ethereum, Cardano, or Solana to be part of it.
Bitcoin Takes Center Stage as a Strategic Asset
On March 2, Trump announced plans on Truth Social to create a digital asset reserve that was initially rumored to include Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Cardano, and Solana. Since there was no official policy at the time, the crypto community eagerly awaited further details.
Fast forward to March 6, and the executive order was officially signed. However, the document explicitly separates Bitcoin from all other cryptocurrencies and confirms that the U.S. government will not be acquiring additional altcoins like XRP.
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 President Trump signs executive order officially creating a #Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.
pic.twitter.com/MiyTAbRkE2— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) March 7, 2025
David Sacks, the White House official responsible for crypto and AI policy, shared parts of the executive order on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, the U.S. government currently holds around 200,000 Bitcoin, most of which were obtained through legal seizures. In the past, these Bitcoin were routinely sold, reportedly causing the government to miss out on an estimated $17 billion in potential value.
Now, with the new policy, Bitcoin will be treated as a strategic asset, much like gold.
Key Details of the Executive Order
The executive order formally establishes the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the United States Digital Asset Stockpile. The U.S. Treasury Department will be responsible for managing and overseeing these assets under strict new guidelines.
A major shift in policy is that all Bitcoin held by the U.S. government—most of which came from seizures—will be transferred to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Unlike previous years, where the government auctioned off confiscated Bitcoin, this new policy prohibits selling, effectively classifying Bitcoin as a protected financial asset.
Additionally, the Treasury Department and the Commerce Department have been instructed to explore ways to acquire more Bitcoin, as long as it doesn’t add costs to taxpayers. This contradicts Senator Cynthia Lummis’ proposal to purchase 1 million BTC, which was ultimately rejected.
U.S. Won’t Buy XRP, Ethereum, Cardano, or Solana
While altcoins like XRP, Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana will be included in the United States Digital Asset Stockpile, the executive order makes it clear:
- The government will not make any additional purchases of these assets—unless they are obtained through legal seizures.
- The Treasury Department will manage these assets and may sell them off depending on regulatory or legal considerations.
Furthermore, all U.S. agencies have been given 30 days to conduct a full audit of all digital assets held by the government. The goal? To document the entire crypto inventory and ensure proper transfers to the designated reserves.
Mixed Reactions from the XRP Community
The crypto community was split on this announcement.
Blockchain Backer, a well-known analyst, challenged David Sacks, demanding an explanation for previous reports that suggested XRP, Solana, and Cardano would be included in the Strategic Reserve. He clarified that the U.S. government does not currently own significant amounts of these assets.
Some crypto speculators, however, believe the U.S. may still end up acquiring XRP—perhaps through the ongoing Ripple vs. SEC lawsuit. If Ripple were to settle with the SEC for $125 million in XRP, this could increase the government’s crypto holdings. No official confirmation of this scenario exists, though.
Meanwhile, analyst Moon Lambo speculated that the U.S. government may already hold small amounts of XRP, Cardano, and Solana through less-publicized seizures. However, he noted that these holdings are not significant enough to play a strategic role.
The U.S. Government Sets a Clear Direction: Bitcoin Is King, Altcoins Are Out
With these new guidelines, the U.S. government is drawing a clear line:
✅ Bitcoin is officially recognized as a strategic asset.
❌ Altcoins, including XRP, will not be part of the plan.
Whether this move will strengthen Bitcoin’s dominance or cause further divisions in the crypto world remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure—crypto investors everywhere will be watching closely.
