How would a US bitcoin strategic reserve work?
- December 18, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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How would a US bitcoin strategic reserve work?
Sub: Eco
Sec : Monetary Policy
Context:
- Bitcoin reached a record high of over $107,000 on Monday after President-elect Donald Trump reiterated plans to establish a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve, which boosted enthusiasm among crypto advocates.
What is a strategic reserve:
- A strategic reserve is a stock of a critical resource which can be released at times of crisis or supply disruptions.
- The best-known example is the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest supply of emergency crude oil, which was created by an act of Congress in 1975 after a 1973-74 Arab oil embargo throttled the U.S. economy.
- Other countries, like Canada, have reserves for unique resources such as maple syrup, and China maintains strategic reserves of metals, grains, and pork products.
About Bitcoin:
- Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency first used in 2009. The bitcoin record uses Blockchain technology.
- Bitcoin is a type of digital currency that enables instant payments to anyone. Bitcoin is based on an open-source protocol and is not issued by any central authority.
- Cryptocurrency is a specific type of virtual currency, which is decentralised and protected by cryptographic encryption techniques. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple are a few notable examples of cryptocurrencies.
- The origin of Bitcoin is unclear, as is who founded it. A person, or a group of people, who went by the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto are said to have conceptualised an accounting system in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Benefits of a Bitcoin Reserve:
- Creating a bitcoin reserve would help the U.S. dominate the global bitcoin market in the face of growing competition from China.
- Holding a stockpile of Bitcoin, which could appreciate over time, might help the U.S. reduce its budget deficit without raising taxes.
- This would also strengthen the U.S. dollar, providing more economic leverage over foreign adversaries such as China and Russia.
Risks of a Bitcoin Reserve:
- Critics argue that, unlike traditional commodities, Bitcoin lacks intrinsic value and is not crucial to the functioning of the U.S. economy.
- Bitcoin is known for its extreme price volatility, which could cause significant fluctuations in the U.S. reserves, impacting the broader economy.
- Crypto wallets are often targeted by cybercriminals, and the U.S. would need to safeguard its Bitcoin holdings from potential cyberattacks.