In a recent episode of the Bitcoin Policy Hour podcast, Zach Shapiro, Head of Policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), made a bold prediction about the potential impact of large-scale US government Bitcoin purchases. According to Shapiro, if the United States were to announce plans to acquire one million Bitcoin, it could trigger an unprecedented price surge.
“If the United States announces that we are buying a million Bitcoin, that’s just a global seismic shock,” Shapiro stated during the discussion. “I think first, the Bitcoin price goes through the roof. Right? I think we probably go very quickly to something like a million dollars per Bitcoin.“
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Bitcoin Policy Institute Head of Policy says “If the US announces we are buying 1,000,000 BTC, the #Bitcoin price goes through the roof. We quickly go to $1,000,000 per Bitcoin” 🚀 pic.twitter.com/IevSt0iXIM
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) April 15, 2025
Strategic Implications Beyond Price
The podcast conversation, which included BPI Executive Director Matthew Pines and Associate Zach Cohen, explored the broader geopolitical and strategic implications of potential US Bitcoin acquisition, particularly in the context of changing global economic dynamics.
Shapiro suggested that such a move would have far-reaching consequences beyond just price appreciation. He outlined potential second-order effects including:
- Rapid response from other nations who would not want to “be left behind”
- Central banks worldwide reassessing their asset allocation strategies
- Potential negative impact on the long-term outlook for gold
- Significant wealth creation within the United States, benefiting both the federal government and private Bitcoin holders
The Bitcoin Act and Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
The discussion referenced the Bitcoin Act, proposed legislation that would call for revaluing US gold reserves and using the proceeds to purchase approximately one million Bitcoin over a five-year period. This initiative aligns with recent executive orders from the Trump administration directing the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Matthew Pines highlighted the strategic advantage of Bitcoin over gold, noting that America holds an estimated 35-40% of all available Bitcoin compared to only 8-10% of the global above-ground gold supply. “In terms of the strategic leverage, there’s an asymmetric advantage for the United States to having Bitcoin monetized relative to gold,” Pines explained.
Also Read: President Trump’s Market Boom Prediction: Immediate Impact on Cryptocurrency and Global Markets
Global Economic Implications
The conversation positioned Bitcoin as a potential tool in broader geopolitical competition, particularly in relation to the dollar’s role in the global financial system. Pines described an ideal scenario where the United States would “graft on this monetization of Bitcoin to the legacy system” to create a “hybrid monetary standard” that could compete with potential alternatives from BRICS nations.
The podcast participants discussed how Bitcoin and dollar-based stablecoins could work synergistically to advance US interests, with Pines noting the “mechanical link between the dollar-Bitcoin price and the amount of stablecoins” needed for global cryptocurrency trade.
A Shift in Policy Perspective
The discussion revealed a significant evolution in how Bitcoin is viewed within policy circles. “The Overton window has shifted,” Shapiro remarked. “The conversations we’ve been having at BPI are hugely different than they were a year ago… The extent to which people take Bitcoin seriously in policy making is really genuinely different than it ever has been in the history of Bitcoin.”
This shift was exemplified by Shapiro’s reference to the executive order that designated Bitcoin as a “strategic asset” that is “in our strategic interest to acquire,” marking a dramatic change from earlier regulatory attitudes.
As the podcast concluded, the participants acknowledged that government adoption of Bitcoin would raise new policy challenges around mining incentives, network security, and the use of Bitcoin as a diplomatic tool.
The full discussion underscores the growing intersection of Bitcoin with national security, economic policy, and global power dynamics—suggesting that what was once considered a fringe technology has moved into the center of serious policy consideration at the highest levels of government.
