Why is Trump's cryptocurrency reserve plan putting some economists on edge?
The president has named five cryptocurrencies he wants to see added to a federal stockpile as experts warn that the whole project could be a flop — or worse
Donald Trump's plans to establish a government stockpile of cryptocurrencies took a notable step forward this past weekend, as the president unveiled the five assets he plans to include in his federal crypto reserve. The U.S. will be the "Crypto Capital of the World," Trump said in a Truth Social post touting relatively low-profile assets like XRP, solana and cardano as the first currencies to join better-known brands bitcoin and ether in a stockpile designed to "elevate this critical industry after years of corrupt attacks by the Biden Administration." Perhaps unsurprisingly, the value of the currencies named has skyrocketed in the wake of Trump's announcement.
At the same time, Trump's crypto-forward plans for the American economy have begun alarming financial experts who warn that crypto's extreme market volatility and susceptibility to manipulation could spell trouble for the country. As Trump continues pushing for a national cryptocurrency stockpile, why are economists raising their red flags, and what — if anything — can they do about it?
What did the commentators say?
Trump's crypto plan has produced a backlash from "conservatives and even ardent crypto backers" who cited concerns over "giveaways to an already wealthy community" and "delegitimizing the digital currency industry," The New York Times said. Some Republicans criticized the plan to use tax dollars to purchase crypto's "risky assets" rather than simply using the money for "paying down the national debt." Other critics pointed out that both Trump and his crypto czar, David Sacks, stand to personally benefit from the boost to the crypto industry.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump's announcement was met with an "unusual amount of skepticism among crypto and tech bigwigs," Forbes said, as insiders questioned the decision to "include assets other than 'digital gold' bitcoin in the fund." Those lesser assets differ from bitcoin by being "more akin to tech investments," James Butterfill, the head of research at asset manager CoinShares, said to Reuters. As currently understood, Butterfill said, Trump's plan "suggests a more patriotic stance toward the broader crypto technology space," rather than utilizing the "fundamental qualities" of each individual asset. With bitcoin as the "most battle tested and decentralized" of the cryptocurrencies, CNBC said, some observers worry that Trump's inclusion of non-bitcoin crypto "invites the government to pick winners and losers in the crypto market."
"People should be calling this what it is, which is a crypto bailout," said journalist Adam Serwer on Bluesky. Referencing members of the Trump family who have launched their own crypto businesses in recent months, he added: "They're cutting cancer research so they can bailout rich, degenerate gamblers."
"Borrowing more to 'invest' in bitcoin is about the worst idea I've heard," said Hoover Institute economist John Cochrane in a panel survey organized by the University of Chicago Booth's Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets. "It will end up in Trump coin or similar." Andrew Lo, an economist at MIT Sloan, was similarly blunt in his survey response: "This can't possibly be a serious question." Of the more than three dozen economists surveyed by the Clark Center, none endorsed the proposal.
What next?
Crypto analysts from Bernstein Wealth Management — "arguably the most mainstream group covering digital asset industry," said Forbes — have cited "material unresolved questions" with Trump's proposal, including how the funds will be distributed across the various named assets, how the government will fund the project and whether such a reserve can be "created merely by [the] president's executive order," Business Insider said. Trump's proposal "lacks details on size, timing and whether it will be managed by the Federal Reserve or another new or existing entity," said Andrew O'Neill, the digital assets managing director for S&P Global Ratings, to Forbes.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Analysts now look ahead to this coming Friday's "first-of-its-kind" White House cryptocurrency summit, which will include "founders, CEOs and investors from the industry," The Hill said.
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
5 seriously spooky cartoons about HalloweenCartoons Artists take on the GOP boogeyman, a white sheet, and more
-
Political cartoons for October 25Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include hospital bill trauma, Independence Day, and more
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Five takeaways from Plaid Cymru’s historic Caerphilly by-election winThe Explainer The ‘big beasts’ were ‘humbled’ but there was disappointment for second-placed Reform too
-
Trump wants to exert control over federal architectureThe Explainer Beyond his ballroom, Trump has several other architectural plans in mind
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Whistles emerge as Chicago’s tool to fight ICEIN THE SPOTLIGHT As federal agents continue raiding the city, communities have turned to noisemakers to create a warning system
-
Will California’s Proposition 50 kill gerrymandering reform?Talking Points Or is opposing Trump the greater priority for voters?
-
‘The trickle of shutdowns could soon become a flood’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
