Last updated on March 11th, 2026 at 03:12 pm
Quick Breakdown:
- The US government will only create a strategic Bitcoin reserve if other nations act first, according to crypto investor Mike Alfred.
- While President Trump has signed an order to develop a reserve, there’s no concrete plan in place.
- Industry voices warn that US hesitation may allow other countries to secure a strategic advantage with Bitcoin holdings.
US crypto entrepreneur Mike Alfred maintains the federal government will not start accumulating BTC until pressured by other nations’ actions. Speaking on a recent podcast, Alfred explained that the US will add Bitcoin to reserves only when it becomes clear that rivals are building their own stacks, and that the timeline for such a shift is uncertain. In March, President Trump signed an executive order forming a US strategic Bitcoin reserve, but officials have yet to establish any details or enact a comprehensive plan.
This position comes amid mounting calls from industry leaders for the US to accelerate Bitcoin acquisitions before other nations, such as Pakistan, secure significant holdings and leap ahead. Jan3 CEO Samson Mow and others have warned of the risk of the US being “front-run,” meaning left behind as global competition over digital reserves intensifies.
Industry and market implications
Mike Alfred projects that by 2033, Bitcoin will hit $1 million, with nearly every government holding some exposure to the asset either directly or through sovereign investment arms. While some executives, such as ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood and Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong, offer more aggressive timelines, Alfred suggests the global adoption of BTC as a strategic asset is nearly inevitable by the next decade.
“I think by the time that happens, almost every government will have some direct or indirect exposure to the asset, and it will be viewed as a common strategic reserve type of asset,”
Industry experts say US hesitation could carry real risks. If the US lags in Bitcoin adoption, its reserve could fall behind those of other major nations, potentially affecting America’s standing in digital finance. Proponents of a faster response point to rising efforts by competitors and to new strategic reserves emerging in other countries.
Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Lummis’s renewed push for the United States to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) to offset the nation’s substantial $37 trillion debt. Lummis asserts that Bitcoin’s limited supply and status as a long-term asset make it a powerful financial hedge, similar to gold or oil, and that the administration is actively exploring Bitcoin-backed reserves.
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