U.S. Government Bitcoin Policy Disagreement: Senators Call to Halt Selling and Switch to Strategic Reserves

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis publicly voiced concerns on January 6th regarding the government’s handling of Bitcoin assets, questioning the legality of the U.S. Department of Justice still selling BTC holdings. She pointed out that Trump had explicitly instructed the government to retain Bitcoin for the establishment of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), rather than continue selling. This statement reflects differing opinions within the U.S. government on Bitcoin policy and marks a new phase where Bitcoin shifts from being viewed solely as an asset to a strategic tool.

Core Policy Disagreements

Senator’s Questions and Demands

Lummis clearly expressed three core points on social media:

• Continuing to sell Bitcoin violates Trump’s explicit instructions
• Bitcoin should be retained and accumulated to build a national strategic reserve
• In the context of other countries increasing their Bitcoin holdings, continued sales by the U.S. would weaken strategic position

This is not only a challenge to the legality of government actions but also indicates a new understanding among U.S. policymakers of Bitcoin’s strategic value.

Background Event: Department of Justice’s Selling Activity

Earlier reports indicated that the U.S. Department of Justice violated executive orders by selling Bitcoin confiscated from the Samourai Wallet developer. This incident became the direct trigger for Lummis’s questioning and exposed inconsistencies across U.S. government agencies in implementing Bitcoin policies.

Significance of the Strategic Reserve Concept

From Asset to Strategic Tool

Establishing a national strategic Bitcoin reserve signifies a fundamental change in how the U.S. government views Bitcoin:

• Asset Stage: Bitcoin as confiscated assets needing liquidation
• Strategic Stage: Bitcoin as a strategic resource, similar to gold or foreign exchange reserves
• Implication of this shift: Recognizing Bitcoin’s long-term value and integrating it into national fiscal strategy

International Competition Context

Lummis emphasized the background of “other countries continuously increasing their Bitcoin holdings.” This reflects a reality:

• Several countries have incorporated Bitcoin into official reserves or government assets
• If the U.S. continues to sell, it risks falling behind in this new asset competition
• Bitcoin reserves could become a new dimension of national financial strategy

Market Response and BTC Performance

According to recent data, BTC is currently priced at $93,797.18, with recent performance as follows:

• 7-day increase: 7.57%
• 30-day increase: 4.84%
• Market cap: $1.87 trillion, accounting for 58.33%

Positive signals from policy levels may support BTC prices. While the senator’s remarks are questioning government actions, they also reinforce the perception of Bitcoin as a strategic asset, which is positive for market sentiment.

Future Policy Directions

Possible Developments

Based on current information, U.S. Bitcoin policy may evolve as follows:

• Congress may push legislation to regulate the handling of government Bitcoin assets
• The Treasury Department might adjust policies regarding confiscated Bitcoin
• The specific scale and management of the strategic reserve need further clarification
• The attitude of the Trump administration will be a key determinant

Issues to Watch

There remains uncertainty around this policy shift. Whether Congress will pass relevant legislation, whether the Department of Justice will change its enforcement approach, and the exact size of the strategic reserve are all issues to monitor.

Summary

Lummis’s statement signals a deep transformation in U.S. Bitcoin policy: from viewing Bitcoin as an asset to be managed to seeing it as a strategic reserve. This shift reflects both Bitcoin’s rising status and U.S. strategic considerations in international competition. In the short term, such policy signals may boost market sentiment. However, how these policies will be implemented and whether a unified execution approach will emerge remains to be seen. For market participants, ongoing attention to the evolution of U.S. government Bitcoin policy is essential.