Trump proposal to create 'crypto strategic reserve' vexes some industry supporters
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is directing his newly created digital assets working group to move forward on creating a “crypto strategic reserve” along the lines of existing U.S. reserves of gold and oil.
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is directing his newly created digital assets working group to move forward on creating a “crypto strategic reserve” along the lines of existing U.S. reserves of gold and oil.
Yet details of the proposal left many observers frustrated, including some longtime Trump and crypto supporters. These critics say Trump’s reserve proposal features several other crypto tokens that are seen as much riskier assets, some of which also have private backers who could directly benefit from any investment by the U.S.
The announcement indicates Trump is forging ahead with a full-on embrace of the entire crypto industry, even as it pushes up against concerns about his own crypto interests. Trump already blurred those lines when he launched his own crypto meme coin immediately after taking office in January, and some experts now say his latest announcement shows he seems largely unfazed about the potential conflicts of having such a close relationship with a specific financial sector.
“Most people see this for what it is: An attempt to pump up crypto markets and benefit those who hold crypto, rather than benefit all Americans whose tax money could go toward more useful initiatives,” said Molly White, a digital asset researcher and sometimes crypto skeptic.
If Trump was looking to boost the crypto markets, it appears to have worked. The prices of many major cryptocurrencies (most notably those included in Trump’s post) jumped sharply in the aftermath of the announcement.
Rating: 5