US Tariff Surplus Could Fund Bitcoin Reserve

One of the most popular ideas in Washington is that the US could strategically increase its Bitcoin holdings by putting some of its growing tariff surplus into digital assets. As of July, US customs duties had reached $135.7 billion, nearly double what they were last year and leaving an unallocated $70 billion surplus. Many people are looking into how this money could be used to increase the country’s Bitcoin reserves without affecting current budget priorities.

Not Affecting the Budget: How to Buy Bitcoin

Adam Livingston, who wrote “The Bitcoin Age and The Great Harvest,” says that the US should use some of the extra money from its monthly tariffs to buy Bitcoin for its strategic reserve. Livingston says that these purchases would be safely stored in cold-storage wallets that are spread out over different locations and require multiple signatures to access. There would also be proof of reserves for transparency. This reserve would not be traded, staked, or used for lending, which would keep its value as a strategic asset.

The plan is in line with President Trump’s executive order that says any extra Bitcoin purchases must be budget-neutral. This means that there won’t be any new spending or money moving from important services like Medicare or paying off debt. Other budget-neutral ideas being looked at include revaluing the Treasury’s gold holdings, which are currently worth $42.22 per troy ounce but are worth $3,335 on the open market, and selling off some government reserve assets, like oil from the strategic petroleum reserve.

The Treasury’s answer and ongoing debates

Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary, sent mixed signals on Thursday. At first, he said the government had no plans to buy more Bitcoin. Later, he said that multiple budget-neutral options are still being looked at. While seized assets are being used to build up the reserve, policymakers are still looking for ways to increase holdings within the limits of the budget.

The United States is looking into practical ways to increase its Bitcoin reserves, such as a record-high tariff surplus and new budget-neutral strategies that are being talked about. The goal of the move is to encourage financial innovation and strategic resilience, but officials are still debating the details of the policy and how it will affect America’s future digital asset holdings.

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