Bitcoin for America: A recap

Yesterday, I wrote about the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI)The event was hosted by, an independent think-tank based in Washington D.C. “Bitcoin For America” summit.

This event took place in the aftermath of President Trump’s signing an executive order (EO) to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) You can also read about the White House’s hosting its first-ever Crypto Summit.

A title like this might suggest jingoistic undertones. However, many speakers admitted that Bitcoin would benefit everyone and the U.S., in part because of this should be leading the adoption.

David Zell (Director of BPI) opened the proceedings with his remarks.

“Our goal for today is to continue this process, to help people understand how Bitcoin benefits America — and the world writ large,” he declared.

Zell was then followed by Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Bitcoin enthusiast who has been around for a while. She argued that the United States should be the leader in Bitcoin adoption. 

“This really is freedom money,” Senator Lummis. “And America should lead when it comes to freedom money.”

Michael Saylor – Bitcoin, American Digital Supremacy

Michael Saylor, the Executive Chairman of Strategy, agreed with Senator McCain and argued that the U.S. must be the leader in this area.

“I’m here today to show you how the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve represents a strategy for United States digital supremacy in the 21st century,” He started.

The United States needs to acquire the most bitcoins possible, he said. “rent and finance” The property is atop of this.

Also, he said that the Bitcoin Network will facilitate trillions in dollars of commerce. This is yet another reason for the U.S. to prioritize getting its own share.

He claimed, in addition, that Bitcoin is a symbol of American values. Owning Bitcoin was like living in America.

“Everybody who is living in Asia, in Africa would move to the U.S. if they could,” Saylor, Mr.

“They’d move their money to the U.S. if they could. They want the currency of the U.S. They want the security of the U.S. They want the values of the U.S., but they can’t have it,” He added.

“So, the second best thing they can have is to move their money into the Bitcoin network, which has all of the values, protection, and security of the U.S.”

Vivek Ramaswamy: Bitcoin Long-Term Reward Is New High Risk Hurdle Rate

Vivek Ramaswamy, the American businessman and Ohio Governor candidate Vivek followed Saylor. He said that the current high-risk threshold rate is based on the rate of returns from holding bitcoins for at least ten years.

This claim was made by him when he said that the world is moving into the an “era of scarce capital.” The Fed has been printing money for the past 15-years, he said. en masseAs he said, it was similar to the way a cocaine seller would distribute cocaine to ravenous users.

The question will be revisited by institutions, he said “What is my opportunity cost of capital?” In order to do so, the investors will have define an investment hurdle rate, both for high and low risk.

Ramaswamy claimed that the hurdle rates for low risk investments are the U.S. Treasury 10-year bond, while for high-risk investors the hurdle rates will be the return rate on bitcoin for the period of 10 to 15 years.

His talk was concluded by him pointing out that the American and Bitcoin ethos are similar, and Bitcoin like the American flag is a symbol for hope.

“I think Bitcoin and what it represents, more than as a financial asset, also helps to fill that hunger for a symbol, a reminder of what American greatness was all about,” Ramaswamy, said “And I think it makes it, in the national context, an even more fitting asset to fill our national Strategic Reserve.”

Matthew Pines: Bitcoin is gaining attention after SBR EO

Matthew Pines of BPI’s Executive Director noted that Bitcoin is starting to become a major issue in the eyes and minds of global leaders. 

He claimed that the first reason is due to the fact that U.S. Treasury bonds have been deemed unreliable by global leaders, leading them to look for other global reserves than U.S. Treasuries.

Second, President Trump’s SBR EO made it clear that Bitcoin is not acceptable to the United States. “digital gold,” And that other leaders will soon see the situation in the same light.

“Last Thursday’s executive order landed on the desk of every major president, central bank [chair] and finance minister in the world,” The Pines.

“There are now discussions happening about how to interpret that. What does that mean for their own country’s relationship to bitcoin? Governments don’t move too fast, but when they do, they move in size, they move in scale and they can deploy trillions of dollars in capital that can have geopolitical effects,” He added.

“And I think we’re at this inflection point where the geopolitical aspects of bitcoin start to become extremely important, and can shape the next several years of Bitcoin’s future. The Bitcoin race is now on, and the ball is in our court to maintain our advantage.”

Rep. Nick Begich introduces the Bitcoin Act

Pines finished his speech and introduced Rep. Nick Begich R-AK to the stage. made a major announcement.

“Today, I will be announcing the Bitcoin Act of 2025 in the United States House,” said Rep.  Begich.

This bill is an update to the original the bill Sen. Lummis proposed last yearThe proposal is that the U.S. purchase 1 million Bitcoins (without cost to taxpayers), and to protect U.S. citizen’s right to keep their own bitcoins.

“[The bill] explicitly protects the rights of individuals to own, hold and transact with bitcoin freely,” Rep. Begich. “It recognizes self-custody as a fundamental right.”

Ro Khanna says Democrats should Support Bitcoin

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-CA, made the argument for Democrats to embrace Bitcoin after a short talk by Zack Shapiro (Head of Policy, BPI) on why U.S. States should keep bitcoins in their reserve.

“Bitcoin should be bipartisan,” Rep. Khanna was the only Democrat to address the audience.

“Now, people are going to be able to get bitcoin. That is transformational for so many people around the world, and that is why the Democratic Party should be embracing this as something that can create financial empowerment for people not just in the United States, but around the world,” Then he went on to say:

Jack Mallers: bitcoin is a return to American values

The first few panels and talks included the likes Casa CEO Nick Neuman, Newmarket Capital Andrew Hohns is the CEO of Andrew Hohns Lightspark The summit concluded with the last speaker, Strike CEO Jack Mallers.

He titled his speech, “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: The American Monetary Revolution”Mallers argued that the SBR’s establishment was a mistake. “a return to American values — including life, liberty and property.”

“The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve executive order and the Bitcoin Act proposed by Senator Lummis is the most significant economic shift and announcement and the only positive economic announcement that’s come out of this nation’s capitol in the last 100 years,” Said Mallers

He continued to state that the American economic policies have been in opposition to the founding principles of the United States and quoted Executive Order 6102 The 1933 gold confiscation order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a violation. Nixon Shock The depegmenting of the U.S. Dollar from gold by President Nixon in 1971 and 2008 bank bailouts as evidence.

But he did end on a good note.

“[This is a] pivotal moment in American history and a turning point in economic policy for this country,” Said Mallers “The story of humanity is [people] engineering a better world — that’s America, that’s Bitcoin.”