US Treasury Secretary Discusses Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Plans As Price Crashes Below $90,000

BitcoinInsider · 2026-01-20T21:46:01+00:00

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the establishment of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for seized Bitcoin, indicating a shift in government policy. However, this did not prevent Bitcoin's significant decline amid political tensions, which contributed to a $215 billion dip in the cryptocurrency market.

BitcoinInsider

2026-01-20 21:46:01

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On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed plans for the country’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), coinciding with a sharp decline in BTC and the overall cryptocurrency market

All Seized Bitcoin To Be Held In Strategic Reserve

In a discussion about the government’s approach to BTC and the recent seizures of the cryptocurrency, Bessent reassured the public that the administration would cease all sales of seized Bitcoin

Instead of auctioning off these assets, the government plans to add the seized Bitcoin to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which was set up in March last year by President Donald Trump’s administration

This decision, however, did little to mitigate BTC’s plummet on Tuesday, as the lack of any plans to purchase additional coins from the market contributed to continued downward pressure on prices

Bessent elaborated that the initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at fostering digital asset innovation within the United States while maintaining federal oversight of confiscated cryptocurrencies

“This administration’s policy is to add seized Bitcoin to our digital asset reserve,” Bessent stated, marking a decisive shift in the government’s handling of Bitcoin assets.

Political Climate Leads To $215 Billion Crypto Market Dip

Bitcoin has experienced a decline of nearly $5,800—coinciding with political tensions after President Trump hinted at a 10% tariff on the European Union (EU) in an attempt to compel Denmark to sell Greenland

This geopolitical maneuver has not only affected Bitcoin but has also resulted in a staggering loss of approximately $215 billion in total market capitalization across the crypto sector.

Market analyst Ted Pillows warned that BTC must maintain its position above the $89,000 mark. He expressed that failing to hold this level would signal the end of the short-term upward trend, further complicating an already tumultuous condition for the cryptocurrency.

When writing, BTC still holds above the key level outlined by Pillows at $89,497, but has declined by 3.7% in the last 24 hours

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

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