The US Secretary of the Treasury rejected the idea of banks forcibly purchasing Bitcoin.

A high-ranking U.S. Treasury official gave a clear answer regarding the possibility of enforcement measures against cryptocurrencies. During a congressional hearing, an official representative confirmed that the government will hold seized crypto assets but will not require financial institutions to increase Bitcoin purchases during market downturns.

Clear Boundaries of Treasury Authority

A California House representative asked several clarifying questions about the administration’s intentions. She inquired whether the U.S. Treasury Secretary plans to mandate commercial banks to buy more cryptocurrencies, including speculative meme coins. The topic of potential changes to reserve requirements for credit institutions to encourage purchases was also raised.

The response was definitive: the federal treasury does not have such authority and does not intend to use it. The U.S. Treasury Secretary emphasized that the leadership of the FSOC (Financial Stability Oversight Council) also lacks the authority to implement such measures. This position indicates a principled refusal of government intervention in private financial sector investment decisions.

Growing Value of the Government Crypto Reserve

The value of confiscated assets has significantly increased over time. The accumulated value of seized Bitcoin held by U.S. authorities has exceeded $15 billion—a substantial increase reflecting the rising value of cryptocurrencies.

According to documents signed by the head of state in March, the country can replenish its Bitcoin reserve only through two channels: court rulings on the confiscation of financial assets or budget-neutral exchange mechanisms. The latter involves converting other strategic assets—such as oil reserves, precious metals, and other reserve assets—into digital currency. Direct purchases on open markets are excluded.

Conservative Approach to Digital Currencies

The U.S. Treasury Secretary’s position extends to other aspects of the crypto economy. Last year, an official expressed negative views on the Federal Reserve’s initiative to create a digital dollar. He assessed that the implementation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) is justified only in the absence of alternative reserve assets.

This conservative stance by the U.S. Treasury Secretary demonstrates the administration’s desire to avoid direct interference in credit and investment policies while preserving and increasing government crypto assets through legal confiscation channels.