How a $100 Billion U.S. Bitcoin Purchase Could Reshape the Crypto Market

What if the U.S. government suddenly decided to buy $100 billion worth of Bitcoin? That’s not just crypto speculation — it’s a serious conversation being led by Coinbase’s top executives. And if it happens, some experts believe it could send Bitcoin’s price soaring to historical levels.

The Big Idea: A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for the U.S.

Coinbase Asset Management President Sebastian Bea recently made waves during an appearance on Frank Chaparro’s podcast. In it, he laid out a plausible and surprisingly realistic pathway for how the U.S. government could purchase $100 billion in Bitcoin — without printing new money or increasing the national debt. According to Bea, the foundation for this plan lies in a little-known accounting relic: the valuation of America’s gold reserves.

Gold Revaluation: The Hidden $900 Billion Opportunity

Right now, the U.S. government’s gold — stored in places like Fort Knox — is still officially valued at just $42.22 per ounce, a number set in 1973. Meanwhile, the current market price for gold is over $3,300 per ounce.

That’s a massive gap. If Congress were to revalue the gold to reflect today’s price, it could unlock $900 billion to $1 trillion in paper gains. From there, allocating just a fraction — $100 billion — toward Bitcoin would be entirely feasible.

And that’s exactly what Bea is suggesting: turn this unrealized gain into strategic investment capital, creating a sovereign Bitcoin reserve for the U.S.

Legislative Path: The Key Change Needed

To make this happen, Bea says Congress would need to amend 31 U.S.C. § 5117, a law governing the issuance of gold certificates. By updating it to reflect the current value of gold, the U.S. Treasury could issue higher-value certificates backed by the revalued reserves.

This mechanism wouldn’t increase the national debt or require printing more fiat. Instead, it would create a pool of value the government could use to buy Bitcoin directly, just like a sovereign wealth fund.

Bea’s vision echoes parts of Senator Cynthia Lummis’ proposed BITCOIN Act, which calls for the U.S. Treasury to acquire 1 million BTC over five years — a move that would have profound global effects.

Trump, ETFs, and the Political Climate

Interestingly, this conversation is gaining traction as Donald Trump eyes a return to the White House and Bitcoin ETFs fuel institutional adoption. After Trump’s previous win, Bitcoin hit new highs — and this time, the market seems even more primed for acceleration.

Institutional players have shown growing appetite for BTC. The idea of the U.S. holding it as a strategic asset could change the narrative from crypto being an “alternative investment” to it being a core component of national economic policy.

Could This Really Happen in 2025?

Bea didn’t offer a firm timeline, but he suggested that 2025 could be a realistic window — especially if political momentum aligns.

With the right legislation and executive support, the pieces are already in place. It would only take a relatively small legislative shift to set the ball rolling.

Final Thoughts: A New Era for Bitcoin?

The idea of the U.S. buying $100 billion in Bitcoin may have once sounded like a crypto fantasy. But today, it’s strategically possible, politically relevant, and economically impactful. If this happens, Bitcoin wouldn't just be digital gold — it would become geopolitical gold, sitting alongside oil reserves and Treasury bonds as a tool for national strategy.