FameEX Hot Topics | White House: US Sells Bitcoin at a $17B Loss, Trump Vows to Hold

The White House has revealed that early sales of government-held Bitcoin have cost U.S. taxpayers more than $17 billion. According to a fact sheet released on March 6, the federal government sold roughly 195,000 BTC for just $366 million over the past decade. If those holdings had been retained, they would now be worth over $17 billion based on current market value. This misstep has prompted a major policy shift under President Donald Trump’s administration.

In response, Trump has issued an executive order to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve, signaling a bold new direction in U.S. digital asset management. The initiative includes a firm “never sell” policy aimed at preserving and growing the nation’s crypto reserves over the long term. The move is being framed as a correction to what the Trump administration sees as a short-sighted liquidation strategy by previous administrations—particularly under President Biden.

David Sacks, the White House’s AI and Crypto Czar, shared insights into the losses via a post on social platform X. Citing data sourced through Grok, X’s AI chatbot, Sacks said, “Over the past decade, the federal government sold approximately 195,000 bitcoin for proceeds of $366 million. If the government had held the bitcoin, it would be worth over $17 billion today.” He emphasized the lack of a long-term crypto strategy as a major failure in fiscal policy.

The establishment of the bitcoin reserve marks a turning point in how the U.S. government may handle digital assets moving forward. It reflects a growing recognition of bitcoin’s strategic value not just as an investment, but as a sovereign asset. Officials say the reserve could serve as a financial hedge and a symbol of technological alignment with the digital age.

Speaking at the first-ever White House crypto summit on March 7, President Trump criticized the past approach: “The U.S. government has foolishly sold tens of thousands of bitcoins worth billions of dollars—mostly during the Biden administration.” He concluded with a clear directive: “From this day on, America will follow the rule that every bitcoiner knows very well: never sell your bitcoin.”

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for reference only and does not represent any investment advice or the official views of FameEX.