During a recent episode of CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” popular market commentator Jim Cramer claimed to have received information suggesting that the Trump administration is planning to acquire Bitcoin for the U.S. Strategic Reserve. Cramer stated, “I heard at $60,000 the President is gonna fill the Bitcoin Reserve,” indicating that this could occur amidst the current downturn in the cryptocurrency market.
This assertion comes in the wake of a significant sell-off in Bitcoin, which narrowly avoided dropping below the $60,000 mark earlier this week. Following this volatility, Bitcoin has managed to recover and trade above $70,000. If Cramer’s report holds true, it would imply that the cryptocurrency would need to decrease in value by more than 15% for the purchase to be feasible.
According to data from Arkham, the U.S. government currently holds approximately 328,372 Bitcoin, worth over $23 billion, without any changes in its holdings since the previous month. The Treasury Department has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding Cramer’s claims.
Further complicating the conversation around a Bitcoin reserve is an executive order signed in March 2025, which stipulates that Bitcoin purchased for the reserve will originate from criminal and civil asset forfeitures. Additionally, once Bitcoin is deposited into this reserve, it cannot be sold.
Recently, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified that the federal government does not possess the legal authority to support or rescue Bitcoin using taxpayer money. He emphasized that neither the Treasury Department nor other federal regulators can mandate banks to invest in Bitcoin or utilize public funds for cryptocurrency ventures.
Despite these hurdles, interest in the establishment of a Strategic Bitcoin reserve appears to be growing. The likelihood of such a reserve being formally established before 2027 has risen to 31% on the prediction market Polymarket, up from 23% at the beginning of January.
As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, discussions about its integration into governmental financial strategies reveal a complex interplay of legal, economic, and market factors, making the future of Bitcoin in the U.S. Strategic Reserve uncertain yet intriguing.
