Sacks: US could increase Bitcoin holdings under Trump executive order
White House crypto and AI czar David Sacks has floated the idea of the United States buying up more Bitcoin—if it can be obtained without impacting the budget of the nation. While speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 conference on May 27 during a fireside chat with Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Sacks suggested the executive order signed by Donald Trump this year provides them with a blueprint for doing just that.
If they are able to do it on the budget and do not have to increase the debt, they can fund those programs, said Sacks.
Government Bitcoin Purchase Possible—But No Guarantees
Sacks pushed he “can’t promise anything” but explained that the March 6 executive order allows for purchasing Bitcoins if they are “budget-neutral.” There would be no new taxes and no contribution to the national debt. Either Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick or Treasury Secretary Scott Besson would be required to reallocate funds from unused government programs.
US Already Holds Over $21B of Bitcoin
As of April, the US government possessed around 198,012 Bitcoin valued over $21 billion. This comprised the lion’s share of major seizures including:
- Silk Road busts: 69,370 BTC in 2020 and 51,351 BTC in 2022
- Bitfinex hack: 94,636 BTC seized in 2022 from Ilya Lichtenstein
- The Department of Justice was recently authorized to sell 198,109 BTC. In March 2023, it sold 9,861 BTC for $215.7 million.
A Strategic Shift in Crypto Policy?
Sacks’ remarks indicate there may be a change in the way the US government might treat crypto assets—not merely taking them, but buying them strategically. Whether it happens hinges on interagency cooperation and innovative budgeting, but the legislation is already signed into law.
