Earlier today, the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), a think tank based in Washington, D.C., held the “Bitcoin For America” summit, making a notable mark in a world increasingly captivated by cryptocurrency.
This gathering took place shortly after President Trump signed an executive order initiating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), and the White House hosted its inaugural Crypto Summit. While the event’s name might suggest a purely nationalistic focus, the discussions emphasized Bitcoin’s potential global benefits and the notion that the U.S. should be at the forefront of embracing this digital currency.
Setting the stage, David Zell, BPI’s Director, highlighted the vision for the day. “Our aim is to further the understanding of how Bitcoin benefits not just America but the world at large,” he stated, clearly enthusiastic about the path forward.
Following him was Senator Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming, a staunch supporter of Bitcoin. She passionately spoke about why the U.S. should lead the charge in Bitcoin adoption. “This truly is freedom money,” Senator Lummis declared, stressing America’s role in guiding its progress.
The next to speak was Michael Saylor, the Strategy Executive Chairman, who echoed the sentiment, arguing for the U.S.’s leadership in the Bitcoin space.
“I’m here today to explain how the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is a strategy for ensuring the United States achieves digital supremacy in this century,” he began. Saylor discussed Bitcoin as digital property, emphasizing the importance of the U.S. acquiring a substantial amount to leverage it economically. He predicted that Bitcoin would become a foundation for trillions in commerce, suggesting this as a vital reason for securing a substantial stake in the network. Saylor further highlighted that Bitcoin aligns with American values and posited that investing in it is akin to America itself as it provides similar security and freedom.
“People from Asia to Africa would move their money to the U.S. if they could. They seek American currency, security, and values,” Saylor stated. “The next best thing they can secure these is by investing in the Bitcoin network,” he argued.
The discussion then flowed to Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio gubernatorial candidate and entrepreneur, who presented an intriguing take on Bitcoin as a high-reward investment benchmark over an extended period.
He posited that we are entering an era characterized by limited capital, contrasting the money-printing spree of the last decade and a half, which he likened to a dealer distributing free hits. Institutions, he explained, will soon revisit the crucial question of capital opportunity cost and need to establish a new benchmark for risks. According to Ramaswamy, the 10-year U.S. Treasury serves as the baseline for low-risk assets, whereas Bitcoin’s returns over 10 to 15 years redefine the high-risk threshold.
Drawing to a close, Ramaswamy reflected on how Bitcoin embodies both American and aspirational global values, likening it to the American flag—a symbol of optimism and resilience. “Bitcoin, much like America, represents something greater,” he asserted, suggesting it as fitting for the nation’s strategic reserves.
Matthew Pines, the Executive Director at BPI, added insight into Bitcoin’s rising global stature, highlighting two key reasons for its growing recognition: the fragility of U.S. debt markets and the redefined view of Bitcoin as “digital gold” from President Trump’s executive order.
He noted, “Last week’s executive order made its way to desks worldwide.” He emphasized the potential for governments, historically slow to adapt, to make substantial moves once they decide on Bitcoin’s role in their economies.
Attention then turned to Congressman Nick Begich from Alaska, who introduced significant legislative news. “Today, I’m announcing the Bitcoin Act of 2025 in the House,” proclaimed Rep. Begich. This bill, an evolution of a proposal by Senator Lummis, outlines plans for the U.S. to obtain a million bitcoins, ensuring citizens’ right to manage their holdings without cost to taxpayers. “The right to own, hold, and transact with Bitcoin is fundamental,” he stressed.
Next was Representative Ro Khanna from California, who advocated for bipartisan support of Bitcoin. “Bitcoin’s promise transcends political lines,” he stated, urging his Democratic colleagues to see its potential for global financial empowerment.
The summit’s concluding speaker, Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, described the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a nod to core American principles such as independence and property rights.
“The move to establish the SBR and the proposed Act by Senator Lummis marks a monumental economic shift, the first positive U.S. economic initiative in a century,” Mallers claimed, candidly criticizing past economic missteps like the Roosevelt-era gold confiscation, Nixon’s gold standard removal, and the 2008 bailouts. Nevertheless, Mallers ended on a hopeful note, emphasizing this period as a pivotal moment in America’s economic narrative. “This is about engineering a better world, which is essentially the spirit of America and Bitcoin,” he concluded.
