Trump’s Commerce Secretary Teases Bitcoin-Only Strategic Reserve

Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested today that Bitcoin could receive unique treatment in the U.S. crypto reserve strategy.

In a recent interview with The Pavlovic Today, Lutnick hinted that Bitcoin’s role in the reserve would be distinct from other digital assets. The proposed crypto reserve is expected to include Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and XRP, yet Bitcoin appears to hold a privileged status in the administration’s vision.

“The president definitely thinks that there’s a Bitcoin strategic reserve,” Lutnick stated. “Now, the question is, how do we handle the other cryptocurrencies? I think that model will be unveiled on Friday.”

Pushback Over Altcoins in the Reserve

Trump’s proposal to include a range of cryptocurrencies in the national reserve has sparked controversy, particularly among Bitcoin maximalists. Critics argue that Bitcoin is the only truly decentralized, non-seizable, and censorship-resistant asset, while altcoins remain largely centralized and prone to regulatory capture.

Even longtime Bitcoin skeptic Peter Schiff—who famously dismissed Bitcoin when it was under $100—acknowledged the logic of a Bitcoin-only reserve while questioning the inclusion of other tokens.

In response to the criticism, Lutnick doubled down on Trump’s commitment to Bitcoin, while leaving room for other digital assets.

“Bitcoin is one thing, and the other crypto tokens will be treated differently—positively, but differently,” he clarified.

The Bitcoin price reacted positively to the news, up 3.5% overnight to $89,540, Source: Bitcoin Liquid Index

White House Crypto Summit: A Shift in U.S. Policy

The upcoming White House Crypto Summit marks a historic pivot in the U.S. government’s stance on digital assets. Set for March 7, the event will bring together some of the most influential figures in crypto, including MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor, Chainlink’s Sergey Nazarov, and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong.

A list of confirmed and unconfirmed guests so far for the Crypto Summit, Source: X

The summit aligns with Trump’s broader push to position America as a global leader in blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation—a stark contrast to the enforcement-heavy approach of previous administrations. Under Trump’s leadership, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has formed a Crypto Task Force aimed at creating “sensible regulatory pathways” for the industry.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House Subcommittee on Digital Assets are actively discussing everything from stablecoin regulations to which agency should oversee crypto spot markets.

Here are the major categories to keep on your radar for the White House crypto summit this Friday. • ETF contenders • Tokens made in USA • Tokens mentioned by Trump • Projects attending the summit I would pay close attention to the tokens that have overlapping themes, according to Miles Deuster.

Categories to watch for the White House crypto summit this Friday, Source, X

It’s Bitcoin’s Moment, but Time Makes a Wine

If Trump successfully implements a Bitcoin-centric national reserve, it could signal a fundamental shift in how governments view digital gold. While details remain sparse, the fact that the world’s largest economy is even considering such a move is a testament to Bitcoin’s growing legitimacy on the global stage.

However, as bullish as this news is for Bitcoin, and for long term Bitcoin price predictions, remember, that talk, and announcements, do not yet mean action. These things take time, so temper your expectations.

Jeff Park, at Bitwise wrote on X, that “As much as I support it in the long run, here’s the #1 reason we need to slow down and temper expectations on the BTC Strategic Reserve (BSR).

I’ve always said that “there will be signs” when the BSR can happen because it requires multilateral cooperation with our trade partners. The U.S. cannot simply acquire BTC on its own without giving allies a heads-up. Why? Because the U.S. finances its fiscal deficit through implicit understandings with trade partners when they assess our creditworthiness. It would be a major insult, for example, if the U.S. front-ran Japan without notice.

Meanwhile, we just saw the IMF issue a new Staff Country Report on El Salvador, explicitly stating that BTC accumulation must end. And who controls the IMF? That’s right—the U.S., with 20% of the total voting power, giving it veto authority. The IMF is the United States. This means the U.S. doesn’t want sovereigns holding BTC on their balance sheets, as that would undermine the dollar’s hegemony.

These two things—the U.S. wanting a BSR while the IMF actively blocks sovereign BTC accumulation—cannot be true at the same time. So while we can continue the domestic political theater around BSR (which I support, since everything has to start somewhere), the real signal to watch is the IMF. When that changes, you’ll know readiness is near. This is a long-term catalyst. Until then, everything else is noise.

As I’ve said before, the real focus should be on declining 10-year rates instead. No more BSR-related pumps and dumps—just a sustained rally driven by falling long-term rates. That’s the regime-shifting catalyst. Trump will figure this out before BSR happens.”