Bitcoin News Today: US Vaults Bitcoin as "Digital Gold" to Secure Financial Supremacy

The U.S. Treasury Department has formalized its commitment to Bitcoin as a strategic asset, unveiling a framework to institutionalize the accumulation and management of government-held cryptocurrency. On March 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14178, establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) and the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile (DAS). The order mandates the consolidation of all government-owned Bitcoin-acquired through criminal or civil asset forfeitures-into a centralized reserve, with strict prohibitions against sales or disposals except for specific law enforcement or legal compliance purposes. The Treasury Secretary is tasked with developing budget-neutral strategies to acquire additional Bitcoin, though no further purchases of non-Bitcoin digital assets are permitted without legislative approval .

The initiative aligns with broader efforts to position the U.S. as a leader in digital finance. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced this vision during a private dinner with CleanSpark Executive Chairman Matthew Schultz in late September 2025, where discussions centered on the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the crypto market structure bill, and the U.S. economy. Schultz described the meeting as a pivotal moment in engaging policymakers with the Bitcoin mining sector, underscoring growing institutional interest in the asset . CleanSpark, a major Bitcoin miner, reported producing 629 BTC in September 2025, expanding its treasury to over 13,000 coins, and leveraging Bitcoin as a productive capital asset to finance growth .

The SBR initiative reflects a strategic shift from viewing Bitcoin as a speculative commodity to recognizing its potential as a store of value and geopolitical tool. The executive order emphasizes Bitcoin's scarcity and security, likening it to "digital gold," and highlights the advantage of early adoption in a global race to secure digital reserves. By 2025, the U.S. government is estimated to hold approximately 198,000 BTC, a figure that dwards holdings of other nations, including China (194,000 BTC) and the U.K. (61,243 BTC) . The Treasury's move also responds to international competition, as countries like El Salvador, Bhutan, and Russia explore or implement their own Bitcoin reserves .

A parallel policy development-exempting Bitcoin from the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (CAMT)-further supports the administration's pro-crypto stance. The Treasury announced in September 2025 that unrealized gains on corporate Bitcoin holdings would no longer be taxed under CAMT, a relief for firms like MicroStrategy (rebranded as StrategyMSTR), which holds 640,031 BTC. This exemption, formalized through Notice 2025-49, addresses concerns that taxing paper profits would distort market dynamics and force asset sales to meet tax liabilities. The guidance introduces an "FVI Exclusion Option," allowing companies to disregard fair value adjustments for digital assets in CAMT calculations .

The strategic rationale for these policies is multifaceted. Proponents argue that Bitcoin's fixed supply and decentralized nature make it a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risks, while critics warn of exposure to price volatility. The SBR's long-term viability hinges on its ability to withstand market fluctuations and maintain public trust. As of October 2025, the U.S. government's Bitcoin holdings are valued at over $24 billion, though their real-world utility remains untested in economic crises .

Industry stakeholders have largely welcomed the developments. CleanSpark CEO Matt Schultz highlighted the Treasury's engagement as a catalyst for innovation, while Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), a vocal crypto advocate, praised the exemption as a step toward equitable taxation. However, challenges persist, including legal hurdles for repurposing seized assets and debates over the role of government in managing decentralized assets. The Treasury's 60-day evaluation period, mandated by the executive order, will assess legal and investment considerations for operationalizing the SBR .

[1] White House, "Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile" (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/establishment-of-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-united-states-digital-asset-stockpile/)

[2] Cryptobriefing, "US Treasury plans to continue accumulating Bitcoin, Treasury ..." (https://cryptobriefing.com/us-treasury-buy-1-million-bitcoin/)

[3] PR Newswire, "CleanSpark Releases September 2025 Bitcoin Mining Update" (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cleanspark-releases-september-2025-bitcoin-mining-update-302574574.html)

[4] Wikipedia, "U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Strategic_Bitcoin_Reserve)

[5] Unbank, "Why Countries Are Building Strategic Bitcoin Reserves" (https://unbank.com/blog/article/why-countries-building-strategic-bitcoin-reserve)

[6] Yahoo Finance, "Treasury to Exempt Bitcoin from 15% CAMT Tax on Unrealized ..." (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/treasury-exempt-bitcoin-15-camt-145819088.html)

[7] Deutsche Welle, "Bitcoin as a US strategic reserve: Does it make sense?" (https://www.dw.com/en/bitcoin-as-a-us-strategic-reserve-does-it-make-sense/a-71837690)

[8] Investor's Business Daily, "Lawmakers Push Bitcoin Strategic Reserve to Secure US Digital ..." (https://www.ibtimes.com/lawmakers-push-bitcoin-strategic-reserve-secure-us-digital-asset-dominance-3783635)