The Secret Crypto Shift: Is President-elect Trump Quietly Ditching Bitcoin for U.S. Altcoins?

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As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to step into office as the 47th president of the United States, reports suggest he is open to the idea of establishing a strategic reserve that would place emphasis on U.S.-based cryptocurrencies, rather than Bitcoin. Sources cited by the New York Post indicate that this reserve could prioritize cryptocurrencies such as USD Coin, Solana, and XRP, potentially sidelining Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

Speculation regarding this crypto reserve gained traction after Trump recently hosted a dinner with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty. Garlinghouse shared a photo from this meeting, noting it as a promising beginning to the year 2025.


The concept of a national Bitcoin reserve earlier captured attention in July 2024, when Trump, during the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, vowed that his administration would maintain the U.S. government’s Bitcoin holdings. He promised to establish a “strategic national Bitcoin reserve.” Following this, Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced the Bitcoin Act, which proposed that the U.S. Treasury acquire up to 200,000 BTC annually, with the goal of building a reserve of 1 million BTC over 20 years.

Trump’s positive stance towards cryptocurrency is further evidenced by his nomination of Paul Atkins as the new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chair, a move seen as indicative of a potentially more lenient regulatory environment.

The crypto community has voiced mixed reactions to these developments. Almeida, co-founder of Orquestra, criticized the potential focus on altcoins, referring to it as a potentially damaging move for credibility. Similarly, David Bailey, CEO at BTC Inc, dismissed the idea as “fake news,” humorously dubbing Ripple as “Kamala coin.” Mike Dudas, co-founder of The Block, mocked the proposition of a strategic Solana reserve, cautioning that such a move could be unwise.

Bitinning CEO Kashif Raza expressed concerns over the risks associated with incorporating altcoins into a national reserve, suggesting that the government should first focus on Bitcoin to understand its impacts. He highlighted the volatility of altcoins, particularly during bear markets, and cautioned against labeling any blockchain as strictly U.S.-based due to their globally distributed nature.