Trump Administration Explores Tariff Revenues for Bitcoin Reserve

The Trump administration has recently shifted its stance on tariff policy, creating a persistent atmosphere of macroeconomic uncertainty. While the extensive tariffs have potentially exerted downward pressure on cryptocurrency prices, President Trump’s top crypto advisor has suggested that these tariffs could play a crucial role in funding the U.S. strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve without relying on taxpayer funds.

In a recent interview with prominent Bitcoin advocate Anthony Pompliano, Bo Hines, the executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, discussed various “budget-neutral” methods the Trump regime is exploring to acquire more Bitcoin. Hines emphasized the administration's openness to creative solutions, including the use of tariff revenues. “We’re looking at many creative ways, whether it be from tariffs, whether it be from something else. I mean, there’re literally countless ways in which you can do this,” Hines stated. “Everything’s on the table.”

This revelation follows the signing of an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump to establish the nation’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve last month. The U.S. currently holds just over 198,000 BTC. Hines compared Bitcoin to gold, asserting that the government intends to hold, not offload, its Bitcoin holdings. He reiterated the administration's goal to acquire as much Bitcoin as possible without affecting taxpayers: “We obviously have made it very clear that we want to acquire as much as we can get. It stipulates that we have to acquire Bitcoin in budget-neutral ways that don’t cost a taxpayer a dime.”

In addition to utilizing tariff revenues for Bitcoin purchases, Hines highlighted Senator Cynthia Lummis’s BITCOIN Act of 2025. This act aims to revalue Treasury gold certificates from their outdated valuation of roughly $43 per ounce to reflect current market prices surpassing $3,000 per ounce. The Trump government’s plans also include collaboration between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and other officials within the inter-agency digital assets working group. Their goal is to formulate Bitcoin acquisition strategies to position the U.S. as “the Bitcoin superpower of the globe.”

Hines emphasized the administration's commitment to exploring all possible avenues to achieve this goal. “We’re gonna make sure that no stone is unturned as we start fleshing out some of these processes. We’ll come together and flesh out some of these ideas and really get to the best solution,” Hines stated. This strategic approach underscores the administration's determination to leverage tariff revenues and other creative methods to build a robust Bitcoin reserve, ensuring that the U.S. remains at the forefront of digital asset innovation and security.