Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve plan signals major policy shift

President Donald Trump hosted crypto industry leaders at the White House on Friday, marking a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward digital assets. This follows his executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, positioning the U.S. as a potential leader in the global crypto economy.

The administration has taken five major steps this month that could reshape cryptocurrency policy. Trump formalized what he calls a “never sell” Bitcoin strategy, declaring that the U.S. government will never sell its Bitcoin reserves. Analysts suggest this could accelerate institutional adoption and drive broader regulatory clarity.

The reserve will be funded using 198,100 BTC – valued at approximately $16.7 billion – that the U.S. government already holds through criminal and civil forfeitures. The White House refers to this approach as a “digital Fort Knox,” signaling a potential precedent for other nations to hold sovereign Bitcoin reserves.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that stablecoins will be integrated into U.S. financial strategy while maintaining the dollar’s status as the global reserve currency. While Trump also mentioned holding XRP, Solana, and Cardano, a White House official later clarified that these were examples rather than confirmed policy decisions.

White House Crypto Czar David Sacks emphasized that no taxpayer funds would be used to acquire additional digital assets. When asked whether gold might be sold to increase Bitcoin holdings, he dismissed the speculation, stating that such decisions would be made by the Treasury and Commerce Departments if ever considered.

The moves mark a stark contrast from previous U.S. policies on digital assets, with industry observers noting this could reshape the relationship between government and cryptocurrency in the years ahead.

South Korea debates national Bitcoin reserve

South Korean lawmakers and financial experts are considering a Bitcoin reserve strategy in response to U.S. policy changes. The topic was the focus of a high-level seminar at the National Assembly on Wednesday, where industry leaders urged the government to integrate Bitcoin into national reserves and develop a won-backed stablecoin.

Kim Jong-seung, CEO of blockchain firm xCrypton, said South Korea must act quickly to remain competitive in the evolving digital asset landscape. His comments reflect growing urgency among Korean crypto industry figures to align with global trends.

The discussion follows moves by other Asian markets. Japan is debating a National Bitcoin Reserve, alongside proposed tax cuts to encourage investment in the crypto sector. Hong Kong has also announced plans to further develop its digital asset market through favorable policies.

South Korea faces challenges due to strict crypto regulations, including rules that prevent non-residents from trading on local exchanges. This has driven many Korean traders to offshore platforms, creating a competitive disadvantage for domestic exchanges.

Analysts believe that crypto policy could become a key election issue. Representative Kim Min-seok of the opposition Democratic Party said his party would push for major changes to crypto regulation if it returns to power. The country could hold a national election as early as May if the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, adding political uncertainty to the future of South Korea’s crypto policies.

Ethos Network brings reputation on-chain

In an industry where fraud and scams remain widespread, decentralized social platform Ethos Network is attempting to solve one of crypto’s biggest challenges – trust. The platform, co-founded by Trevor Thompson and Ben Walther, is building an on-chain reputation system designed to bring accountability to crypto transactions.

Ethos uses a vouching mechanism where users stake funds to back others’ credibility, creating financial incentives to maintain honesty. The system assigns credibility scores based on trustworthiness, similar to how credit scores work in traditional finance.

The project was inspired by Thompson’s experience in the crypto space, where he witnessed firsthand how scams and frauds have eroded confidence in the industry. Walther, who has worked in cybersecurity since 2006, sees Ethos as a way to make reputation transparent, verifiable, and financially valuable.

The long-term vision for Ethos extends beyond cryptocurrency, with potential applications in freelancing, e-commerce, and peer-to-peer transactions. As crypto adoption grows, establishing trust mechanisms could play a key role in bringing the industry into the mainstream.

Georgian court orders arrest of Bitcoin investor

A Georgian court has ordered the detention of venture capitalist George Bachiashvili, accusing him of embezzling Bitcoin profits from ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Bachiashvili, who reportedly fled to Armenia on March 2, is accused of mismanaging 8,253 BTC mined between 2015 and 2017. The case centers on allegations that he misled Ivanishvili about the value of Bitcoin generated through a mining operation.

According to court documents, Bachiashvili initially repaid a $5 million loan that had been used to fund the mining project. However, prosecutors allege that he failed to disclose the full extent of the mining profits, instead transferring only a fraction of the proceeds.

Transparency International has raised concerns about the prosecution, calling the case politically motivated due to Ivanishvili’s powerful influence in Georgian politics. If convicted, Bachiashvili could face up to 12 years in prison.

Robinhood settles FINRA probe for $30M

Financial platform Robinhood has agreed to pay $30 million to settle investigations by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which accused the platform of failing to detect market manipulation, identity fraud, and other compliance violations.

Regulators found that Robinhood did not properly supervise its clearing system during a period of rapid growth between 2020 and 2021. The company also failed to retain influencer communications promoting investment content, which FINRA ruled as misleading to investors.

This settlement follows a $45 million SEC fine in January, reflecting increased regulatory scrutiny on platforms offering crypto trading. Despite these legal setbacks, Robinhood’s crypto trading division has seen rapid growth, with transaction revenues rising 200% year-over-year.

The global crypto race is heating up

The establishment of a U.S. Bitcoin Reserve signals a new phase in how major economies approach digital assets. While the U.S. is moving toward government-backed crypto holdings, other nations are watching closely.

In South Korea, policymakers are debating a national Bitcoin reserve as part of a broader effort to stay competitive in the evolving digital economy. Meanwhile, blockchain projects like Ethos Network are working to bring more trust to the space, addressing concerns about security and fraud.

Legal challenges remain a key theme in crypto’s mainstream transition. From Robinhood’s regulatory fines to Georgian authorities pursuing Bitcoin-linked fraud cases, governments are increasing oversight, even as digital assets gain institutional legitimacy.

With the industry evolving rapidly, global governments are now competing for leadership in the crypto space. The next year could determine which countries emerge at the forefront of the digital financial revolution.