The Trump administration is working to establish a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve, but the initiative has encountered significant legal and bureaucratic obstacles that are delaying implementation, according to Bloomberg. Officials are questioning whether the U.S. Treasury Department has the statutory authority to hold and manage government-controlled Bitcoin, forcing policymakers to explore alternative governance structures.
The administration initially planned to house the Bitcoin reserve under Treasury management, but legal concerns have prompted a broader review of options. Officials are now evaluating whether the asset could instead fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, with the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel working alongside both agencies to establish a legally viable framework. The deliberations reflect the unprecedented nature of a sovereign U.S. Bitcoin holding and the gaps in existing regulatory authority.
The delay underscores a fundamental challenge in operationalizing crypto policy at the federal level: current statutes were not drafted to contemplate government custody of digital assets. Resolving the structural question is essential before the administration can formally establish holdings, custody mechanisms, and management protocols—making the legal groundwork a critical precursor to any actual Bitcoin acquisition by the U.S. government.