Earlier this morning, the U.S. authorities introduced through a courtroom doc that stolen bitcoin from the Bitfinex hack in 2016 needs to be returned to the alternate in-kind. This bitcoin, as seen publicly on the blockchain through Arkham Intelligence, totals 94,643 BTC at present value $9.4 billion on the time of writing.
Simply 5 days earlier than pro-Bitcoin Donald Trump is sworn into workplace for a second time period, the U.S. authorities appears to be on the verge of sending a big chunk of U.S. held bitcoin again to Bitfinex. Final summer time, at The Bitcoin 2024 Convention in Nashville, Donald Trump pledged to create a nationwide strategic bitcoin stockpile utilizing the bitcoin already held by the federal government obtained from hacks, seizures, and so forth. In keeping with Arkham Intelligence data, the U.S. at present holds 198,109 bitcoin value over $20.1 billion. If these cash are to be despatched again to Bitfinex — that will reduce Trump’s promised strategic reserve by 47.77% right down to 103,466 BTC.
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 DONALD TRUMP PLEDGES TO NEVER SELL #BITCOIN AND HOLD IT AS A STRATEGIC RESERVE ASSET IF ELECTED PRESIDENT pic.twitter.com/bbPRxlZfGZ
— Bitcoin Journal (@BitcoinMagazine) July 27, 2024
It makes me bullish that if the federal government goes to be buying mass quantities of bitcoin within the close to future and over the long run, then I’d need them to begin from as near 0 as attainable, as a result of that will require them to market purchase extra and push the worth larger. The bitcoin needs to be returned in-kind, the courtroom doc acknowledged, which means these cash is not going to must be offered for {dollars}, relieving any downward stress on bitcoin’s value from that will be sale. Plus bitcoin getting returned to its rightful proprietor appears like the correct factor to do, and I’m certain Bitfinex shall be thrilled to get their cash again.
Nevertheless, if the U.S. authorities goes to be mass shopping for bitcoin for a strategic reserve, then Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis’ proposed laws for that will must be signed into legislation. Because it stands from simply Trump’s promise, he would simply initially hold the seized bitcoin held on the federal government stability sheet because the strategic reserve, with the potential of buying extra BTC by different strategies, however made no exhausting promise on that. Senator Lummis’ proposed invoice would see america purchase 200,000 bitcoin per 12 months, for five years, till it has gathered a complete of 1,000,000 bitcoin.
JUST IN: US Senator Cynthia Lummis outlines Strategic #Bitcoin Reserve plan: "buy 200k BTC per 12 months for 5 years. 1m BTC complete." 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/57ofJhc8X0
— Bitcoin Journal (@BitcoinMagazine) November 21, 2024
Nevertheless this all performs out, the strategic bitcoin reserve shall be bullish for the nation and for Bitcoin usually. Clearly, Senator Lummis’ invoice could be the way more bullish of the potential outcomes, as a result of it could market purchase again all of the bitcoin it plans to present again to Bitfinex, after which 905,357 BTC extra. That quantity of sheer shopping for demand would most definitely ship the worth of bitcoin skyrocketing, particularly as different governments all over the world begin shopping for as effectively to maintain up with our authorities’s purchases.
Even when Lummis’ invoice doesn’t come to fruition, and we solely get the reserve that Trump promised, I imagine that’s nonetheless sufficient to make different governments FOMO into creating their very own reserve as effectively.
There may be solely about 450 new bitcoin getting mined day by day, and with institutional bitcoin purchases already outpacing the brand new provide of BTC mined this 12 months, issues might get actually loopy, actually quick. Buckle up.
JUST IN: Company demand for #Bitcoin is already outpacing new bitcoin provide this 12 months 👀
Bullish 🚀 pic.twitter.com/PyKk9Aci93
— Bitcoin Journal (@BitcoinMagazine) January 13, 2025
This text is a Take. Opinions expressed are fully the creator’s and don’t essentially mirror these of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Journal.
