The idea of one Bitcoin strategic reserve Gets traction in Donald Trump’s Digital Assets Advisory Council, with a controversial financing method on the table – tariff. Bo Hines, CEO of the newly formed Council, flowed the proposal during a new interview with Crypto Podcaster Anthony Pompliano. His remarks indicate that the White House may seek creative ways to collect bitcoin without utilizing the taxpayers’ dollars.
Customs as a crypto-financing tool
“We look in many creative ways – whether it is from customs, whether it comes from something else,” Hines said. His comments came in response to questions about how the United States could afford to buy Bitcoin on a scale.
Hines also emphasized that the goal is to “acquire as much as we can get” from the world’s leading digital access. However, he was clear that Bitcoin strategic reserve must not become an economic burden for the American public. The idea, according to Hines, is to finance Bitcoin purchases on indirect funds, such as customs revenue, rather than direct public spending.
The birth of Bitcoin Strategic Reserve
Donald Trump first revealed the concept with a Bitcoin strategic reserve at the Bitcoin Conference in 2024. The initiative became more formal in early March 2025, when he signed an executive order to establish both Bitcoin Strategic Reserve and a broader US digital asset storage.
At this stage, none of the units have started buying crypto directly. Instead, the focus has been on consolidating digital assets already seized by US law enforcement and laying the foundation for potential future acquisitions.
While the first rollout seemed mostly symbolic, Hine’s comments indicate that a more proactive phase could soon begin. The former president’s team is now investigating ways to grow these reserves through state-led purchasing-funded creatively.
Political and economic branches
The mention of tariffs as a financing mechanism comes in the middle of a fleeting period for global trade and markets. Trump’s fluctuating customs regime has caused market uncertainty, especially in industries that depend on imported goods. Customs on basic objects, such as clothing, can increase prices by as much as 45%, according to NPR.
This strategy can serve a dual purpose: punish foreign exporters while penetrating revenues into bitcoin acquisition. However, it raises questions about how such politics would affect American consumers and trade relations globally.
John Nahas, Deputy President of Business Development at AVA Labs, emphasized the ongoing excitement: “The Irony is that you went from complete uncertainty about legislation to regulatory security. But now there is general market and geopolitical uncertainty.”
A broader digital asset strategy
The idea of a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve also signals a broader pivot in the US policy towards digital assets. While the Biden administration was known for its cautious legislation, the Trump team encompasses a more self -adhesive and strategic strategy.
According to this model, the US government can become an active player in the crypto gym, not just a regulator. By investing in Bitcoin, the Trump administration would signal that it sees digital assets not only as financial instruments, but as strategic economic assets – is similar to gold or foreign foreign exchange reserves.
Such a movement can have rippling effects in the entire markets. Companies such as Coinbase (Nasdaq: Coin), Micro Strategy (Nasdaq: MRST) and even global financial players such as Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA), which previously contained Bitcoin on their balance sheets, can find new relevance if a national bitcoin reserve becomes reality.
Last thoughts
The notion of finance a Bitcoin strategic reserve through customs may sound unconventional, but it corresponds to Trump’s broader political style – hidden, nationalist and disturbing. Whether the plan is moving forward depends on political will and economic feasibility. But one thing is clear: The United States seriously investigates how digital assets can play a role in its financial and geopolitical strategy.
With Trump’s team openly seeking ways to build crypto reserves without dipping in taxpayers’ funds, era of state aid Bitcoin Accumulation can just start.
Image: Freepik © Starline
