Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed back against speculation around a Strategic Bitcoin reserve, making clear that the federal government has no legal authority to support or "bail out" Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) using public funds. No Bitcoin Bailout Authority During a House Financial Services Committee hearing on financial stability risks, a lawmaker questioned whether the U.S. government could support Bitcoin by directing banks to buy it or by deploying taxpayer funds into crypto markets. Don't Miss: S ...

For people like me who are in crypto, weekends are no longer enjoyable. One move, one comment, one decision, and our entire portfolio can turn red. Last weekend, crypto investors globally saw the market nosedive to all-time lows. Bitcoin plunged to the 70's zone, dropping close to $74,000, about 40% drop from its all time highs. At press time, it was trading at $78,244.45 Analysts have also started factoring in bear market conditions while giving price predictions. Bernstein, however, is seeing light a ...

Core Viewpoint - U.S. agencies may not be adequately preserving Bitcoin as directed by a March executive order from President Trump, raising concerns from Senator Cynthia Lummis about the liquidation of these strategic assets while other nations accumulate Bitcoin [1][2]. Group 1: U.S. Government Actions - Senator Lummis criticized the U.S. government's ongoing liquidation of Bitcoin, questioning why assets are being sold when they should be preserved for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as per presidential directive [2]. - The U.S. Court for the Southern District of New York sold Bitcoin related to the Samourai wallet case, which Lummis highlighted as a misstep in asset management [2][5]. - The Marshals Service reportedly had permission to liquidate the Bitcoin, but they denied selling the assets in question, indicating a potential conflict with the executive order [6][7]. Group 2: Samourai Wallet Case - The Samourai wallet was a privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet that was shut down in 2024 following a federal investigation, leading to the conviction of its developers for operating without a license [3]. - Developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill received prison sentences of five and four years, respectively, and paid a total of $6.4 million in forfeiture, likely in Bitcoin [4][5]. - The forfeited Bitcoin was reportedly sold by the Marshals Service, which may have violated the executive order directing the preservation of digital assets from forfeitures [5].

Core Insights - The potential return of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado could influence the future of Bitcoin in Venezuela, especially following Nicolás Maduro's ouster [1] Cryptocurrency Adoption in Venezuela - Venezuela has a significant history of cryptocurrency usage, driven by hyperinflation and the need for monetary stability among citizens, as well as the government's reliance on Tether and Bitcoin to circumvent sanctions [3] - The country recorded nearly $45 billion in cryptocurrency transaction volumes from July 2024 to June 2025, surpassing nations like Japan and Argentina in the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index by Chainalysis [4] Bitcoin Holdings and Speculations - Reports suggest Venezuela may possess a substantial Bitcoin reserve, with estimates ranging from $22 million for 240 BTC to as much as $60 billion according to Project Brazen [5] - Speculation exists that the U.S. could potentially seize Venezuela's Bitcoin reserves, which could positively impact the market, although the legality of such actions is uncertain [6] Political Landscape - The current political situation in Venezuela, with Maduro's deputy Delcy Eloína Rodríguez still in power, raises questions about Machado's ability to assume leadership in the near future [7] - Betting markets indicate low confidence in the U.S. recognizing Machado as Venezuela's leader, despite her commitment to return to the country [9]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government is reportedly selling Bitcoin, raising concerns about the contradiction with a directive to preserve these assets for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve [1][2][3]. Group 1: Government Actions - Senator Cynthia Lummis expressed concern over the Department of Justice's sale of Bitcoin seized from Samourai Wallet developers, questioning the rationale behind this action despite a presidential directive [2][3]. - The U.S. Marshall Service may have sold approximately $6.3 million in Bitcoin forfeited from the Samourai co-founders [3][4]. Group 2: Strategic Bitcoin Reserve - The U.S. government currently holds 328,372 BTC, valued at over $30 billion, as part of a National Bitcoin Reserve established by a previous executive order [5]. - The executive order includes provisions for developing budget-neutral strategies to acquire additional Bitcoin [5].

Core Viewpoint - Bitcoin is currently facing challenges, down over 7% for the year, trading at $87,000, but is predicted to rise by 75% to $150,000 by 2026 [1] Historical Performance - A 75% gain is not unprecedented for Bitcoin, which has historically shown strong performance, including a 36% gain in its worst bull market year (2015) and triple-digit percentage returns in seven years since 2012 [2] Future Predictions - The year 2026 may mirror 2019, when Bitcoin surged by 95% following a significant drop in 2018, driven by global economic uncertainty and increased institutional investor interest [3] Institutional Investment - Institutional investors are increasing their Bitcoin exposure through new spot Bitcoin ETFs, while global economic uncertainty, particularly regarding tariffs and U.S. macroeconomic conditions, is a prevailing concern for investors [4] Bitcoin vs. Gold - For Bitcoin to regain traction as "digital gold," investor confidence in this narrative must be restored, as Bitcoin is currently down 7% while gold has increased by 73% [5][6] Price Recovery Potential - Despite dropping below $100,000, Bitcoin has the potential to rebound and reach $150,000 in 2026, with historical trends suggesting a recovery from down years [7] Market Dynamics - Bitcoin was once expected to follow the "debasement trade" trend, moving alongside precious metals like gold, but this correlation has not materialized in the current market [8]

Cryptocurrency Adoption - Texas became the first state in America to purchase Bitcoin for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve [1]

RT Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine)JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Congressman Warren Davidson says the US can fund the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve by accepting tax payments in BTC 👀https://t.co/4qu58908cZ ...

Government & Policy - Congressman Warren Davidson suggests the US can fund the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve by accepting tax payments in BTC [1]

Core Insights - The "strategic national digital assets stockpile" established by the Trump administration is likely facing unrealized losses due to lack of transparency and accountability [1][2] - The U.S. government has not provided a full accounting of its cryptocurrency holdings, which include the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the Digital Asset Stockpile [2][3] - The estimated value of U.S. cryptocurrency holdings is approximately $27 billion, but the exact amount of Bitcoin held is disputed among data providers [3][4] Cryptocurrency Holdings - The U.S. government reportedly holds between 325,000 and 326,000 Bitcoin according to some sources, while others estimate it at only 198,012 Bitcoin [4] - Most tokens in these reserves are acquired through criminal seizures, civil forfeitures, and major bankruptcy liquidations [2] Performance of Digital Assets - The median return for a basket of altcoins, including Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano, since April 5 is –4.5% [5] - When considering a broader list of assets under U.S. custody, excluding stablecoins and Bitcoin, the median return drops to –10%, heavily influenced by poor performance of metaverse and AI-focused tokens [6] Transparency Issues - There is a significant transparency gap regarding the Digital Asset Stockpile, which lacks public disclosures, an official registry, and a reporting portal for taxpayers [9] - Despite the focus on the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, only Bitcoin has entered the federal reserve program, raising questions about the management of other digital assets [7]