US Government Could Use Gold Certificate Gains to Buy Bitcoin, Says Bo Hines

The Trump administration is exploring budget-neutral strategies to expand its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, according to Bo Hines, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets. One proposed method involves leveraging unrealized gains from government-held gold certificates.

Leveraging Gold Certificates for Bitcoin Acquisition

In a recent interview on the Crypto in America podcast, Hines highlighted Senator Cynthia Lummis’ Bitcoin Act of 2025, which suggests revaluing gold certificates held by the Federal Reserve at current market prices. Currently, these certificates are valued at a statutory price of $42.22 per ounce, significantly below the current market price of over $3,000 per ounce.

By updating the valuation of these gold certificates, the government could realize substantial gains without additional taxpayer expense, providing a budget-neutral method to acquire more Bitcoin.

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Special Status of Bitcoin

Hines emphasized Bitcoin’s unique status as a commodity rather than a security, distinguishing it from other digital assets. He noted that Bitcoin’s decentralized nature and intrinsic value justify its special treatment within the government’s digital asset strategy.

The US currently holds approximately 207,000 BTC seized from criminal and civil proceedings, making it the largest known Bitcoin holder among nation-states.

Bipartisan Progress on Crypto Legislation

Beyond Bitcoin acquisition, the Trump administration is actively working with bipartisan support to advance cryptocurrency legislation. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) recently indicated that Congress is likely to pass stablecoin and crypto market structure bills this year, reflecting growing bipartisan consensus on digital asset regulation.

Key Points:

• Trump administration considers using unrealized gains from gold certificates to buy Bitcoin.
• Gold certificates currently valued at $42.22 per ounce, far below market price.
• Senator Cynthia Lummis’ Bitcoin Act of 2025 proposes revaluing these certificates at market rates.
• US government already holds around 207,000 BTC, the largest known national holding.
• Bipartisan support growing for stablecoin and crypto market structure legislation.