'Obscure' laws stall Bitcoin reserve: White House Crypto Council director

Progress is being made toward establishing a Bitcoin (BTC) strategical reserve successful the United States, but “obscure” ineligible provisions are holding up the process, according to Patrick Witt, the manager of the White House Crypto Council. 

Several authorities agencies are discussing the legalities and regulatory issues of establishing a Bitcoin strategical reserve, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Witt told the Crypto successful America podcast. He said:

“It seems straightforward, but past you get into immoderate obscure ineligible provisions, and wherefore this bureau can't bash it, but actually, this different bureau could. We're continuing to propulsion connected that. It is surely inactive connected the precedence database close now.”

US President Donald Trump signed an enforcement bid establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a “Digital Asset Stockpile” that included altcoins and different types of cryptocurrencies successful March 2025.

Trump signs the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile order. Source: Margo Martin

Establishing a nation-state Bitcoin reserve would beryllium a landmark infinitesimal for the world’s archetypal integer currency. However, immoderate successful the Bitcoin assemblage person been captious of the enforcement order, criticizing the Trump medication for underdelivering connected its promises.

Related: Sygnum sees tokenization and authorities Bitcoin reserves taking disconnected successful 2026

The Bitcoin assemblage feels short-changed by the strategical reserve announcement

Trump’s enforcement bid stipulated that the US authorities would not merchantability immoderate of its Bitcoin holdings and lone adhd to the strategical reserve done BTC seized successful plus forfeiture cases.

The enforcement bid does not let the authorities to get much Bitcoin oregon integer assets connected the unfastened market, which drew disapproval from the Bitcoin community.

The US government’s full crypto holdings, including BTC, shown successful dollar terms. Source: Arkham Intelligence

“The content that the national authorities volition 1 time physique a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve requires a implicit detachment from reality,” Bitcoin maximalist Justin Bechler said. 

“There is nary question toward a Bitcoin reserve. There is nary volition to get a fixed-supply plus successful bully faith. There are lone bare speeches, vague references and opportunistic pandering from Washington politicians,” helium added.

Source: Michael Bentley

In July 2025, the Trump medication released a long-awaited report connected integer plus argumentation that did not see further details connected a strategical BTC reserve, which drew further backlash from the Bitcoin community.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent projected successful August 2025 that the authorities could acquire BTC done budget-neutral strategies, which bash not adhd to the yearly fund deficit. 

The announcement renewed hopes that the US authorities could commencement buying BTC connected the unfastened marketplace done converting portions of different reserve assets to BTC oregon revaluing its erstwhile metals holdings and utilizing those gains to get much Bitcoin. 

Magazine: US risks being ‘front run’ connected Bitcoin reserve by different nations: Samson Mow