Lawmakers Rally Crypto Leaders to Push Trump's Bitcoin Reserve Bill Forward

Summary

On September 16, 2025, U.S. lawmakers are convening with 18 top crypto executives to advance President Donald Trump's proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a plan that could see the government acquire 1 million Bitcoin (BTC) over five years. The roundtable, hosted by The Digital Chambers and its affiliate The Digital Power Network, focuses on building momentum for the BITCOIN Act, introduced by Senator Cynthia Lummis in March 2025, amid stalled progress over the past six months. Funding would come from budget-neutral sources like the Federal Reserve and Treasury, including reevaluating gold certificates and using tariff revenue. Attendees include Bitcoin mining leaders like Michael Saylor of Strategy and Tom Lee of Fundstrat, alongside venture capitalists and traditional finance representatives. The meeting aims to address legislative objections and forge a coalition, following the recent passage of the GENIUS Act stablecoin bill in July. With Bitcoin trading at $107,820 amid economic uncertainty, this effort could solidify U.S. leadership in digital assets, but challenges like regulatory hurdles and fiscal concerns remain.

Key Points

• The Roundtable Meeting: Scheduled for September 16, 2025, the event brings together lawmakers and crypto executives to discuss implementing Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The focus is on ensuring budget-neutral advancement of the BITCOIN Act, which proposes the U.S. government purchase 1 million BTC over five years to establish a national strategic reserve.

• BITCOIN Act Details: Introduced by Senator Cynthia Lummis in March 2025, the bill would fund the reserve through the Federal Reserve and Department of the Treasury, using strategies like reevaluating Treasury gold certificates and allocating tariff revenue. This aligns with Trump's executive order emphasizing budget-neutral mechanisms to avoid taxpayer costs.

• Attendees and Stakeholders: Participants include Michael Saylor (Strategy chairman), Tom Lee (Fundstrat CEO and BitMine chairman), Fred Thiel (MARA CEO), Matt Schultz and Margeaux Plaisted (CleanSpark executives), Jayson Browder (MARA), Haris Basit (Bitdeer), executives from Off the Chain Capital and Reserve One, Andrew McCormick (eToro US head), David Fragale (Western Alliance Bank), and Jay Bluestine (Blue Square Wealth). The Digital Chambers emphasized coalition-building to overcome stalled momentum.

• Recent Legislative Context: The meeting follows the July 2025 passage of the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin bill that provides regulatory clarity for digital assets. This success has bolstered efforts to push the BITCOIN Act forward.

• Challenges and Objectives: The discussion will address the bill's lack of progress over the last six months, identifying key objections from lawmakers and exploring solutions to build support. The goal is to position the U.S. as a leader in cryptocurrency adoption through a strategic reserve.

Critical Analysis

The roundtable represents a significant step in mainstreaming Bitcoin as a national asset, potentially mirroring gold reserves and enhancing U.S. financial sovereignty in a $3.81 trillion crypto market. The BITCOIN Act's budget-neutral funding—via tariff revenue and gold certificate reevaluation—is innovative, avoiding direct taxpayer burden and aligning with Trump's pro-crypto agenda. However, the narrative of swift advancement overlooks entrenched challenges: the bill's six-month stall suggests resistance from fiscal conservatives wary of crypto volatility, with Bitcoin's $107,820 price and historical 65% drawdowns (e.g., 2022) fueling concerns. Attendees like Saylor and Lee bring credibility—Saylor's Strategy holds 636,505 BTC ($68.7 billion)—but the inclusion of TradFi figures like Western Alliance Bank hints at potential conflicts, as banks may view a government reserve as competition for custody services. The GENIUS Act's success is a positive precedent, but its stablecoin focus differs from Bitcoin's speculative nature, risking over-optimism. Overall, while the meeting could forge a coalition, true progress depends on addressing economic risks and bipartisan buy-in in a polarized Congress.

Supporting Data

Metric	Value	Source
Bitcoin Reserve Proposal	1 million BTC over 5 years	BITCOIN Act (Senator Lummis, March 2025)
Current Bitcoin Price	$107,820	Cointelegraph Markets Pro (September 16, 2025)
Attendees	18 executives, including Saylor, Lee, Thiel	The Digital Chambers announcement
GENIUS Act Passage	July 2025	U.S. Congress records
Stalled Momentum	6 months without progress	Internal legislative tracking
Funding Sources	Federal Reserve, Treasury (gold certificates, tariffs)	Trump's executive order

Conclusion

The September 16, 2025, roundtable between lawmakers and crypto executives is a crucial push for Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, aiming to advance the BITCOIN Act's 1 million BTC acquisition through budget-neutral funding. With heavyweights like Michael Saylor and Tom Lee in attendance, the meeting seeks to overcome six months of stalled momentum and build a coalition, building on the GENIUS Act's success. While this could position the U.S. as a crypto leader, challenges like volatility and legislative resistance persist. As Bitcoin trades at $107,820 amid economic uncertainty, the outcome could signal a new era for national digital assets—or highlight the hurdles to mainstream adoption. Stakeholders should monitor post-meeting developments for signs of bipartisan support.