This August 14, ambiguous remarks by Secretary Scott Bessent sparked a mini-krach, erasing in a few minutes from the tens of billions of dollars in capitalization. While investors feared an official renunciation of any BTC acquisition, a retropedlage published on the X platform a few hours later came to sow even more confusion on the real strategy of the United States.
In short
- On August 14, an ambiguous declaration of Scott Bessent brutally dropped the course of Bitcoin.
- The US treasure claims not to want to buy Bitcoin, causing markets on the markets.
- A few hours later, Bessent returns to his remarks by ensuring that purchases remain “budgetary possible”.
- Critics are increasing in the crypto ecosystem, which denounces a lack of action and confused communication.
A media outing that sows confusion
It all started this Thursday with an interview with the secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, in Fox Business, in which he made remarks that quickly made the market react, while Bitcoin had just crossed the $ 124,000 mark. He has in particular assertive ::
“We also started to enter the XXIth century, with a Bitcoin reserve. We are not going to buy them, but we will use confiscated assets and continue to accumulate them ”.
These statements have been interpreted as an official renunciation for any active Bitcoin purchase by the United States. Such a perception immediately caused a sudden fall in the market, and the reaction of investors was not long in coming:
- The price of Bitcoin went from $ 121,073 to $ 118,886 in the space of 40 minutes;
- $ 55 billion in capitalization have been deleted, according to Cooring data
; - The Domino effect affected the entire crypto market, weakened by this unexpected declaration.
Aware of the impact of his remarks, Scott Bessent tried a retropedage a few hours later on the social network X. He writes: “The Treasury remains committed to exploring neutral budgetary solutions to acquire more bitcoin in order to extend the reserve, and keep the President's promise to make the United States the world superpower of Bitcoin”.
This clarification constitutes a partial disavowal of its own remarks made earlier in the day, and confirms that the Bitcoin purchasing option remains officially under study, despite the lack of concrete ad at this stage.
Bessent also recalls that the base of the American Bitcoin reserve is currently constituted exclusively by BTC seized during legal proceedings, an approach which does not mobilize public funds.
Slow execution and growing skepticism
Despite the clarification of Bessent, skepticism settles. The crypto community is impatient in the face of a strategy that seems to stagnate since the executive order signed by Donald Trump on March 6, establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile.
The president then paved the way for btc neutral purchases for the budget, excluding any impact on public finances. However, despite five months of reflection, no concrete plan has been revealed. Senator Cynthia Lummis recalled that the Congress must validate any direct acquisition, which could explain the prudence of the Treasury.
The latest publication of Digital Asset Working Group, eagerly awaited, did not provide a clear response to purchasing methods. Among the tracks mentioned are a re-evaluation of the or or the use of customs income, but these hypotheses remain theoretical and without application calendar.
Bessent's mixed response was not enough to reassure players in the sector. Eli Nagar, CEO of the Société de Mining Brains, reacted strongly: “Are you seriously still exploring neutral budgetary solutions?” At one point, exploring without executing resembles avoidance. Come on, move! »».
Max Keiser, Bitcoin advisor to the Salvador, for his part mocked the recurring employment of the word “Exploration” by the American authorities.
These criticisms reflect a deeper discomfort. While several states are progressing with its Bitcoin strategy, the United States seems to trample. The possibility of getting ahead of this strategic field becomes a subject of increasing concern.
Despite the absence of additional purchases, Bessent confirmed that the government would stop selling its current Bitcoin reserves. He estimated their value between $ 15 and $ 20 billion. After Bitbo dashboard datathe United States has 198,012 BTC, valued at 23.5 billion dollars during the current course. If this decision to keep BTC can be perceived as a positive signal, it does not compensate for the lack of clear vision on future purchases.
Such a sequence highlights the capital importance of clear and coherent communication from the American authorities on crypto issues. As long as the acquisition strategy remains unclear, the United States risks losing the strategic advantage they intend to claim. It remains to be seen whether the congress will play a facilitating role, as was the case for the voting of the Genius Act, or if it will continue to feed institutional inertia.
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