Trump administration may potentially use tariffs revenue to buy Bitcoin for strategic reserve

A senior presidential adviser has hinted that the U.S. government is considering using Trump tariffs revenue to buy Bitcoin as part of its plan to build a national crypto reserve.

Bo Hines, executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, confirmed the strategy in an Apr. 14 interview with crypto investor Anthony Pompliano. “We’re looking at many creative ways, whether it be from tariffs, whether it be from something else,” Hines said. “Everything’s on the table.”

The administration plans to acquire as much Bitcoin (BTC) as possible without adding to the national debt or increasing taxes. Apart from tariffs revenue, another approach under review is revaluing U.S. Treasury gold certificates, which are still listed at $43 per ounce, far below the market price of over $3,200.

This revaluation could generate a large paper surplus, which would then be used to fund Bitcoin purchases without selling the gold itself. Hines said the goal is to build a long-term reserve and not to trade or sell the assets. 

“We obviously have made it very clear that we want to acquire as much as we can get. We have to acquire Bitcoin in budget-neutral ways that don’t cost a taxpayer a dime.”

—  Bo Hines, Presidential digital assets adviser

The initiative has been previously supported by key figures in Trump’s economic team, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The proposal also aligns with the BITCOIN Act of 2025, backed by Senator Cynthia Lummis. 

The bill proposes that the U.S. acquire up to one million BTC over five years to establish a strategic reserve. Some of that Bitcoin could come from assets already held by the government, like crypto seized in criminal cases.

Hines said the White House is also working on a digital asset strategy expected this summer. It will outline how the U.S. plans to support crypto innovation, regulate sectors like staking and tokenization, and promote U.S. dollar stablecoins globally.

In the meantime, the price of Bitcoin has somewhat recovered from weekly lows brought on by worries about Trump tariffs. In the past week, Bitcoin has fallen below $80,000, reaching a low of about $75,000. It has since recovered and is trading around $85,505 as of press time.

Short-term bullish momentum is indicated by the cryptocurrency’s recovery of its 50-day moving average. However, that upward trend may be tested by resistance at $88,000.