In a recent post on the social media platform X, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju raised doubts about the potential for the U.S. to adopt a national Bitcoin reserve during Donald Trump’s incoming presidential term. Young Ju expressed support for the idea of a Bitcoin standard, yet questioned whether the U.S. would embrace Bitcoin as a strategic asset without a significant threat to its global economic dominance. Despite Trump’s campaign promise to establish a national Bitcoin reserve — a pledge that has intrigued cryptocurrency supporters and analysts alike — Young Ju remains skeptical about its implementation.
Following Trump’s election, Bitcoin saw unprecedented price increases, reaching an all-time high of over $108,300. However, even prior to Trump’s apparent pivot towards Bitcoin, the U.S. had already been leading in Bitcoin mining, accounting for approximately 37.8% of the world’s hash rate as of 2022. The U.S. dollar continues to exert significant international influence, accounting for 58% of all trade and 59% of currency reserves worldwide.
Young Ju posits that the U.S. would only consider a strategic Bitcoin reserve if it felt its global supremacy was endangered. Historically, the U.S. has responded to perceived threats to its economic dominance with increased interest in alternative financial standards, much like previous debates regarding the gold standard.
Economic and geopolitical developments have prompted more Koreans to favor U.S. dollars over gold and Bitcoin as safe-haven assets, reflecting broader global sentiments towards the dollar’s stability. This raises questions about the evolution of U.S. economic policies under Trump’s leadership.
Trump, historically a critic of cryptocurrency, has shifted his public stance, particularly during the 2024 campaign. His previous comments criticized Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, labeling them as unstable and unregulated assets conducive to illicit activities.
Young Ju suggests that Trump’s embrace of Bitcoin could be politically motivated. He notes the uncertainty surrounding how firmly Trump would hold to his pro-Bitcoin campaign rhetoric if he successfully bolstered U.S. economic resilience and the dollar’s dominance. Young Ju questions whether Trump’s mention of Bitcoin at the BTC Conference signifies a genuine step towards a Bitcoin standard or a calculated move to secure electoral support.
The broader cryptocurrency community remains watchful as geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainties continue to shape market dynamics and policymakers’ approaches to digital assets.
