Following a week of intense speculation in Washington, the White House’s Working Group on Digital Assets is formally reviewing updated criteria for the national bitcoin stockpile. Reports emerging this weekend confirm that the interagency body, chaired by Special Advisor for AI and Crypto David Sacks, is evaluating a pivot from merely holding seized assets to an active acquisition strategy. This development comes just days after ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood suggested that the Trump administration is preparing to fulfill its promise of acquiring up to one million Bitcoin to solidify U.S. financial leadership.
The Shift from Seizure to Strategic Acquisition
Since the signing of the landmark Trump crypto executive order in January 2025, the United States has maintained a "hold-only" policy regarding its digital asset reserves. Currently, the US bitcoin reserve consists of approximately 198,000 BTC, primarily derived from historical Department of Justice seizures. However, insiders familiar with the Working Group’s discussions indicate that this passive approach is increasingly viewed as insufficient to maintain American dominance in the global digital economy.
On Friday, January 9, Cathie Wood ignited fresh debate when she stated that the administration’s "original intent was to own one million bitcoins," predicting a shift toward active market purchases. The Working Group is now tasked with determining how such a massive accumulation could be executed without disrupting markets or increasing the federal deficit. The proposal under review reportedly outlines a phased acquisition plan that targets the 1 million BTC benchmark proposed in Senator Cynthia Lummis’s BITCOIN Act.
David Sacks and the ‘Budget-Neutral’ Mandate
As the administration’s "Crypto Czar," David Sacks crypto advisor role has been central to bridging the gap between Silicon Valley innovation and Washington policy. Sacks, who chairs the digital asset working group, has emphasized that any expansion of the stockpile must be "budget-neutral." This constraint has led the group to explore creative financing mechanisms, such as revaluing gold certificates or utilizing Federal Reserve remittances, to fund the national bitcoin stockpile without burdening taxpayers.
"The goal is responsible stewardship," Sacks noted in a recent briefing, distinguishing the long-term strategic reserve from a transactional trading account. The Working Group includes heavyweights like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, both of whom have been tasked with developing a framework that treats Bitcoin as a permanent national asset, akin to gold reserves.
Overhauling the Regulatory Landscape
The evaluation of the stockpile proposal marks a decisive turn away from the enforcement-heavy era of the previous administration. The SEC crypto task force, once feared by the industry for its aggressive litigation, has been effectively restructured under the "SEC 2.0" initiative announced last year. The focus has shifted from prosecution to clear regulatory frameworks, paving the way for institutional adoption and government-level investment.
A New Era for US Crypto Policy
The renewed push for a robust US bitcoin reserve aligns with the administration's broader "Crypto Capital of the World" agenda. Following the passage of the GENIUS Act for stablecoins in July 2025, the focus has squarely turned to sovereign holdings. Proponents argue that a strategic stockpile is essential to hedge against monetary instability and to counterbalance other nations' digital currency initiatives.
With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, the administration is reportedly keen to deliver on its boldest crypto promises. If the Working Group recommends active purchases, it would signal an unprecedented legitimization of Bitcoin as a reserve asset, potentially reshaping the global financial system. For now, markets wait with bated breath as the White House finalizes its criteria for the future of America’s digital wealth.
