US Eyes Gold Revaluation, Tariffs to Fund Bitcoin Reserve

The United States may be gearing up for one of its boldest moves in financial innovation—building a national Bitcoin reserve. But rather than dipping into taxpayer funds, Trump administration officials are considering unique, budget-neutral mechanisms like using tariff revenue and revaluing old gold certificates.

According to Bo Hines, Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, the initiative is part of a larger strategy to establish the U.S. as a dominant player in the digital asset space—especially in the face of intensifying global competition.

Funding Bitcoin with Gold and Tariffs: How It Would Work

1. Tariff Revenue as a Crypto Funding Source

The U.S. has raked in billions through new tariffs, especially amid recent trade policy changes. Instead of funneling this revenue into traditional reserves or general spending, officials are evaluating ways to redirect some of it into purchasing Bitcoin for national reserves.

“We want as much Bitcoin as we can get,” Hines emphasized, adding that everything is being considered if it doesn’t burden taxpayers.

2. Gold Certificate Revaluation

The real wild card? Gold certificates. The U.S. Treasury holds certificates that peg the value of gold at $43 per ounce—a price frozen decades ago.

• Gold is currently trading around $3,200 per ounce.
• If revalued, this discrepancy would create a paper surplus—billions in “new” accounting value.
• That surplus, without selling any actual gold, could then be used to purchase Bitcoin.

This method could allow the U.S. to build its Bitcoin position on paper gains alone.

The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile

President Trump’s March 2025 executive order called for two major crypto-focused asset programs:

1. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

• Seeded initially with seized Bitcoin from criminal prosecutions.
• Designed for long-term strategic holding, similar to how gold reserves are treated.

2. Digital Asset Stockpile

• Broader crypto reserve including Ethereum, XRP, SOL, and others.
• May be liquidated or deployed strategically, depending on market conditions.

Crypto Policy Framework: A National Roadmap on the Way

According to Hines, the Trump administration is fast-tracking a national digital asset policy framework, with a public release expected by late July or August 2025.

Topics to be covered include:

• Stablecoin promotion and USD dominance.
• Staking rules for retail and institutions.
• Asset tokenization frameworks.
• Integration of blockchain across federal services.

“We’re moving at tech speed—it’s like we’re a startup in this building,” Hines said, capturing the urgency and ambition of the administration’s crypto push.

What Was Left Unsaid: Trump’s Crypto Ties Avoided

Interestingly, while Hines offered bold ideas, he dodged any direct questions about former President Trump’s personal involvement in the crypto industry. Key concerns remain:

• The TRUMP meme coin, allegedly tied to Trump-linked entities, has generated over $100 million in trading fees.
• World Liberty Financial, the company behind the USD1 stablecoin, is partially operated by Trump family members.

These ventures have drawn sharp criticism:

• Rep. Gerald E. Connolly called TRUMP coin a “money grab.”
• Rep. Maxine Waters argued it reflects “the worst of crypto.”

Despite bipartisan concerns, there’s no current legislation targeting these ties.

Audit Still Pending: Where Is the Government’s Bitcoin?

Trump’s executive order also mandated a full audit of federal Bitcoin holdings within 30 days. Yet, there’s been no official update.

Some estimates place current U.S. government BTC holdings around 200,000 BTC, mostly seized through criminal enforcement actions—valued at over $17 billion.

That figure could increase if alternative funding models—like tariffs or gold revaluation—are successfully implemented.

State-Level Momentum: 47 Bitcoin Bills Across 26 States

The national push is mirrored at the state level. According to Bitcoin Law, there are:

• 47 Bitcoin reserve bills introduced in U.S. state legislatures.
• 41 bills still active, spanning 26 states.

This signals growing political alignment on Bitcoin’s role in national and local finance.

Key Takeaways

• Non-taxpayer options like tariffs and gold revaluation are under serious consideration for Bitcoin acquisition.
• A nationwide crypto policy framework is in the works, focusing on stablecoins, tokenization, and staking.
• Trump’s crypto affiliations, especially with TRUMP coin and USD1, remain controversial and largely unaddressed.
• Strategic reserves of Bitcoin and other digital assets are becoming institutionalized as part of U.S. economic planning.

What’s Next?

Expect July and August to be pivotal months:

• The crypto framework rollout will shape everything from retail staking to government-backed stablecoins.
• Gold certificate revaluation, if approved, could unlock massive capital for Bitcoin purchases.
• Market reactions could be significant if the U.S. makes large BTC buys public.