Today, the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), a Washington, DC-based think tank, held its “Bitcoin in America” summit.
The event came as President Trump signed an executive order (EO) to establish a strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), and the White House held its first crypto summit.
You might have expected gingoistic overtones from events with such titles. However, many speakers have acknowledged that Bitcoin is a global benefit and that is why the US should guide the path of adoption.
BPI Director David Zell set the tone for the event with his opening remarks.
“Our goal today is to continue this process and help people understand how Bitcoin can benefit America.
Zell was followed by Sen. Cynthia Ramis (R-WY), a longtime Bitcoin advocate.
“This is really freedom money,” Senator Ramis said. “And America should guide us when it comes to freedom money.”
Michael Saylor: Bitcoin and the Digital Hegemony of America
Strategy Executive Director Michael Saylor agreed to the Senator and argued why the US would lead the field.
“I'm here today, showing how the strategic Bitcoin reserve represents the strategy of US digital advantage in the 21st century,” he began.
He argued in favour of Bitcoin as a digital property, arguing that the US should win as much as possible so that it can “lease and raise funds” on its property.
He also assumed that trillions of dollars of commerce would flow over the Bitcoin network. This is another reason why the US should prioritize gaining share of its network.
Furthermore, he argued that Bitcoin embodies American values and owning it is the next best thing to live in the US
“Everyone who lives in Asia, people who live in Africa will move to the US if possible,” Saylor said.
“They'll move their money to the US if they can. They want US currency that they want US security that they want US value, but they can't have it,” he added.
“So the second best they can have is moving their money to the Bitcoin network.
Vivek Ramaswamy: Bitcoin's long-term return is a new, high-risk hurdle rate
Ohio gubernatorial candidate and American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has followed Saylor to propose a move that will make profit margins a new, high-risk hurdle rate by holding Bitcoin for over a decade.
He set the stage for this claim by making the case that we are returning to a “age of rare capital.” He shared that this will be the opposite of the past 15 years. Marsas he said, in a similar way to cocaine dealers who drain cocaine to hungry users.
He explained that the institution must once again think about the question, “What is the cost of capital for my opportunity?” And in doing so, they need to define the hurdle rates for both low- and high-risk investments.
Ramaswamy argued that the hurdle rate for low-risk investments is the 10-year US Treasury Department, while the hurdle rate for risky investments is the Bitcoin return rate over a period of 10-15 years.
He then closed his speech by pointing out how the American spirit and the Bitcoin spirit overlap, and pointing out that, like the American flag, Bitcoin is a symbol of hope.
“I think Bitcoin and what it represents will help satisfy our hunger for symbols rather than as a financial asset. This is a reminder of what America's greatness is.” “And I think it will become a more appropriate asset in the context of the nation to fill our national strategic preparation.”
Matthew Pines: The world pays attention to bitcoin after sbreo
Matthew Pines, executive director of BPI, noted that Bitcoin is beginning to center the eyes of world leaders for two reasons.
Initially, he argued that the US debt market has become increasingly vulnerable, urging world leaders to start considering investing in global reserve assets outside of the US Treasury Department.
The second reason is that President Trump's SBR EO clearly stated that the US views Bitcoin as “digital gold” and that it's only a matter of time before other leaders view it as the same.
“Last Thursday's executive order landed on the desks of all the major presidents of the central bank. [chair] And the world's finance minister,” Pines said.
“There's been a debate about how to interpret it. What does that mean for our country's relationship with Bitcoin? The government doesn't move very quickly, but when they do, they move on scale, they move on scale, they can deploy trillions of dollars on capital that can have a geopolitical impact,” he added.
“And I think we are at this inflection point where the geopolitical aspect of Bitcoin begins to become very important and can shape the future years of Bitcoin. Bitcoin races are on the rise and the ball is in our courts to maintain our profits.”
Rep. Nick Begich reintroduces Bitcoin Act
After Pines finished his speech, he introduced Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) to the stage, where the House members made a big announcement.
“Today, I will be presenting the 2025 Bitcoin Act at my US home,” Rep. Begich said.
The bill is the latest version of Senators proposed last year, suggesting that the US acquires 1 million bitcoin (at no cost to taxpayers) and protects Bitcoin from the right to self-compromise for US citizens.
“[The bill] Rep. Begich said: “It recognizes independence as a fundamental right.”
Congressman RO Khanna: Democrats should support Bitcoin
After a brief speech from BPI's policy director Zack Shapiro, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) argued why Democrats accept Bitcoin.
“Bitcoin should be bipartisan,” said Rep. Kanna, the only Democratic politician to speak at the event.
“Now people will be able to get Bitcoin. It's transformative for so many people around the world, and that's why Democrats should accept this as something that can create financial empowerment for people not only in the US but also around the world,” he added.
Jack Mullers: Bitcoin is back to American value
After a handful of talks and panels from CASA CEO Nick Neuman, Newmarket Capital CEO Andrew Hohns and Lightspark CSO Christian Catalini, Strike CEO Jack Mallers took the stage as the final speaker at the summit.
In his speech entitled “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: The American Currency Revolution,” Mullers argued that the establishment of the SBR is a “return to American values, including life, freedom and property.”
“The executive order on strategic Bitcoin reservations and the Bitcoin Act, proposed by Senator Ramis, are the most important economic changes and announcements, and the only positive economic announcement that has emerged from the country's Capitol in the last 100 years,” Mullers said.
He went on to say that the US economic policy was established and cited Executive Order 6102 (forfeiture of gold under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933), the Nixon Shock (taking US dollars from gold in 1971), and Executive Order 6102 (forfeiture of gold) as evidence as a bank relief package in 2008.
But he ended up with a high note.
“[This is a] “A pivotal moment in American history and a turning point in the country's economic policy,” Mullers said. “The story of humanity is [people] Engineering is a good world – it's America, it's Bitcoin. ”
