Today, the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), a think tank located in Washington, D.C., organized the summit titled “Bitcoin For America.”
The event followed President Trump’s signing of an executive order (EO) to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) and the White House’s inaugural Crypto Summit.
While one might expect a nationalistic sentiment from an event with such a title, many speakers emphasized that Bitcoin is a global asset, and consequently, the U.S. should take the lead in its adoption.
In his opening remarks, David Zell, Director of BPI, established the event’s purpose.
“Our aim today is to further the conversation around how Bitcoin benefits not only America but also the wider world,” he asserted.
Zell was succeeded by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), a devoted Bitcoin proponent, who argued that it is natural for the U.S. to spearhead Bitcoin adoption.
“This is truly freedom money,” Senator Lummis stated. “And America ought to lead in the domain of freedom money.”
Michael Saylor: Bitcoin And American Digital Supremacy
Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor echoed the Senator’s sentiments, presenting a case for U.S. leadership in this field.
“Today, I am here to demonstrate how the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve embodies a strategy for the United States to achieve digital supremacy in the 21st century,” he began.
Saylor continued to champion Bitcoin as a form of digital property, claiming the U.S. should amass as much of it as possible to be able to “rent and finance” based on that asset.
He argued that trillions of dollars in commerce would eventually flow through the Bitcoin network, making it imperative for the U.S. to prioritize its share.
Furthermore, he asserted that Bitcoin reflects American ideals, with ownership serving as the next best alternative to residing in the U.S.
“Anyone residing in Asia or Africa would relocate to the U.S. if given the opportunity,” Saylor noted.
“They’d invest their money in the U.S. if permitted. They desire U.S. currency, security, and values, but those options are out of reach,” he added.
“Thus, their second-best option is to invest in the Bitcoin network, which encompasses the values, protection, and security of the U.S.”
Vivek Ramaswamy: Bitcoin’s Long-Term Return Is The New High-Risk Hurdle Rate
Following Saylor, Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio gubernatorial candidate and entrepreneur, introduced the idea that the long-term return on Bitcoin holdings represents a new standard for high-risk hurdle rates.
He made this assertion by suggesting we are entering an “era of scarce capital,” contrasting it with the previous 15 years when the Federal Reserve engaged in massive money printing, akin to a drug dealer providing drugs to eager consumers.
He explained that institutions will soon have to reassess the question, “What is my opportunity cost of capital?” and as a result, establish a hurdle rate for both low-risk and high-risk investments.
Ramaswamy indicated that the hurdle rate for low-risk investments would be defined by the 10-year U.S. Treasury, whereas the benchmark for high-risk investments would be the expected return from Bitcoin over a 10-to-15 year timeframe.
He concluded by emphasizing the overlap between American values and the ethos of Bitcoin, stating that, like the American flag, Bitcoin symbolizes hope.
“Bitcoin represents, beyond merely being a financial asset, a reminder of what American greatness stands for,” said Ramaswamy. “In a national context, this makes it an even more suitable asset for our Strategic Reserve.”
Matthew Pines: The World Is Paying Attention To Bitcoin After SBR EO
Matthew Pines, Executive Director of BPI, highlighted that Bitcoin is gaining prominence among global leaders for two key reasons.
Firstly, he noted that U.S. debt markets are becoming increasingly unstable, prompting global leaders to explore alternatives to U.S. Treasuries as a reserve asset.
The second reason, he stated, is that President Trump’s SBR EO explicitly classified Bitcoin as “digital gold,” leading other leaders to likely follow suit.
“Last Thursday’s executive order was presented to every prominent president, central bank head, and finance minister around the globe,” Pines remarked.
“Discussions are starting regarding its implications. What does this mean for their respective nations’ relationships with Bitcoin? Governments may not act swiftly, but when they do, they undertake significant measures and can deploy trillions in capital with geopolitical consequences,” he added.
“We are reaching an inflection point where the geopolitical dimensions of Bitcoin will become remarkably significant and influence Bitcoin’s trajectory over the coming years. The race for Bitcoin has commenced, and it’s up to us to sustain our lead.”
Congressman Nick Begich Reintroduces The Bitcoin Act
After Pines finished his presentation, he welcomed Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) to the stage, where the Congressman made an important announcement.
“Today, I will announce the Bitcoin Act of 2025 in the United States House,” Rep. Begich shared.
This bill, a revised version of the proposal that Senator Lummis presented last year, seeks for the U.S. to acquire 1 million bitcoin (with no cost to taxpayers) while also safeguarding the right of U.S. citizens to self-custody their bitcoin.
“The bill explicitly ensures the rights of individuals to own, hold, and transact with Bitcoin freely,” stated Rep. Begich. “It recognizes self-custody as a fundamental right.”
Congressman Ro Khanna: Democrats Should Support Bitcoin
Following a brief presentation from Zack Shapiro, Head of Policy at BPI, advocating that U.S. states should include Bitcoin in their reserves, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) articulated why Democrats ought to endorse Bitcoin.
“Bitcoin should transcend partisan lines,” remarked Rep. Khanna, the sole Democratic representative at the event.
“This development enables access to Bitcoin. It presents transformative opportunities for countless individuals globally, which is precisely why the Democratic Party should embrace it as a pathway to financial empowerment not only within the U.S. but also globally,” he elaborated.
Jack Mallers: Bitcoin Is A Return To American Values
After several discussions and panels featuring industry leaders such as Casa CEO Nick Neuman, Newmarket Capital CEO Andrew Hohns, and Lightspark CSO Christian Catalini, Strike CEO Jack Mallers concluded the summit as the final speaker.
In his address, “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: The American Monetary Revolution,” Mallers argued that the formation of the SBR marked “a return to American values — including life, liberty, and property.”
“The executive order for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the Bitcoin Act proposed by Senator Lummis represent the most substantial economic transformation and the only favorable economic development to emerge from our nation’s capital in a century,” Mallers emphasized.
He further argued that American economic policy has diverged from the principles on which the country was founded, citing Executive Order 6102 (gold confiscation in 1933 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt), the Nixon Shock (depegging the U.S. dollar from gold in 1971), and the 2008 bank bailouts as evidence.
Nonetheless, he concluded on an optimistic note.
“This marks a pivotal moment in American history and a significant turning point for economic policy in this nation,” Mallers proclaimed. “The narrative of humanity is one of striving to create a better world — that’s America, that’s Bitcoin.”
