Donald Trump returns to the White House in about three weeks — with an expectant crypto industry anticipating he’ll take swift action to deliver on pro-Bitcoin policies.
The president-elect has promised a lot. From declaring an ambition that every remaining BTC will be mined in the U.S. — to establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve — Trump wants America to be the world’s crypto capital.
He’s caught a lucky break on some of these pledges. Firing Gary Gensler “on day one” will no longer be necessary as the SEC chair has already resigned. Pro-crypto Paul Atkins has been nominated as his successor.
Meanwhile, David Sacks has been tapped to become the White House’s AI and crypto czar, with industry heavyweights heading to Mar-a-Lago in hope of joining an advisory council focused on digital assets.
All of this momentum helps explain why Bitcoin has rallied by up to 60% since November 5 alone, with bulls confidently predicting that fresh record highs await in 2025.
Yet at the same time, we are starting to see some of this euphoria subside, and reality begin to set in.
BitMEX co-founder, crypto trader and essayist Arthur Hayes recently predicted investors face a rude awakening when Trump’s inauguration rolls around on January 20, and should prepare for disappointment. Warning the incoming president has just 12 months at best to make Bitcoiners proud, he wrote:
“I think there exists a wide gap between crypto investor’s high expectations for how quickly Trump can change things and the reality that there are no politically acceptable solutions available to Trump to quickly bring about such change.”
So does that mean dreams of the U.S. creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve are in peril? Will an uncertain economic climate derail the bull run? Does Trump have the political strength to push through his policies? Cryptonews has assembled a panel of experts to find out.
Cautious Optimism
Samson Mow is a prominent Bitcoiner and the CEO of JAN3, a company that focuses on nation-state adoption.
He told Cryptonews that “it’s unclear how much Trump’s pro-Bitcoin stance will translate into action” — but there are key areas that could give America a competitive advantage over other economies.
“Policies encouraging Bitcoin mining or reducing regulatory burdens could position the U.S. as a global Bitcoin leader. If the U.S. embraces Bitcoin strategically, it could set a powerful precedent for other nations to follow, but only time will tell if Trump can act on that promise.”
That sentiment is echoed by Chainalysis director of investigations Phil Larratt. He warns it’s too early to assess how successful this new administration will be — and with the president-elect facing a bulging in-tray, the early months of his time in the Oval Office will be critical.
“We will need to see what Trump manages to achieve with his first 100 days in office, as this will set the stage for the rest of his presidency.”
Industry groups appear to be keenly aware that time is of the essence here, with the Bitcoin Policy Institute drafting an executive order so a strategic BTC reserve can be rapidly established.
This stockpile would involve holding 200,000 BTC seized from criminals as an investment rather than auctioning it off — with some wanting Trump to go further by purchasing up to one million BTC over the next five years.
Setting out the hurdles that lie ahead, YouHodler’s chief of markets Ruslan Lienkha told Cryptonews:
“It is unlikely that Donald Trump will fulfill all his pro-Bitcoin promises in 2025, though there is a possibility that progress could be made over the course of his presidency. The most ambitious of these promises — such as including Bitcoin in U.S. strategic reserves — seems unlikely to materialize before 2026. Skepticism toward digital assets remains pervasive at all levels of society, including policymakers, institutional investors, and the general public. Achieving these goals will require significant strides in regulatory clarity, broader societal acceptance, and evidence of stability within the cryptocurrency market.”
A Perfect Political Climate?
Yet others on the Cryptonews panel — including Bitcoin Supercycle author Michael Terpin — believe there’s little to stand in Trump’s way.
“With a conservative majority in the Senate, House and Supreme Court, and moderate Democrats jumping on the pro-crypto bandwagon, it’s difficult to imagine substantial opposition. Sectors like the Fed remain opposed to Bitcoin, but that was never a key factor in adoption.”
One thing is clear: long-awaited regularity clarity is finally on the way — and it’s going to have an indelible impact on the crypto industry. Neil Bergquist, CEO of the Seattle-based exchange Coinme, told us:
“We will see a lot of investment and innovation in the space that will improve everyone’s financial lives and enable people to capture the benefits of crypto’s economic opportunities.”
Bergquist went on to warn that Trump’s ability to deliver on his campaign pledges may be out of his control at times, as congressional approval will be required for many crypto-related policies.
“Additionally, the president has limited authority regarding actions taken by the SEC, CFTC, and Treasury Department since they play a more significant role in shaping crypto regulations. However, the odds are more in our favor than ever with a supportive president, crypto supporters leading the SEC and CFTC and Republicans controlling the House and Senate.”
A Coinme study released with CryptoLiteracy.org recently revealed 49% of Americans support the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
Samson Mow told Cryptonews that he remains bullish about BTC’s prospects and long-term price potential, even if Trump’s crypto dreams fall flat.
“Bitcoin’s trajectory doesn’t rely on any single government or administration. Its decentralized nature ensures that it thrives regardless of political support. The JAN3 team is actively engaging with lawmakers all over the world, and it’s only a matter of time before many other nations implement their own Bitcoin strategies.”
The post Experts Reveal if Donald Trump Can Deliver His Bitcoin Promises appeared first on Cryptonews.
