In a landmark interview at the White House last week, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick outlined a comprehensive vision for integrating Bitcoin into America’s economic landscape, signaling a dramatic shift in the federal government’s approach to cryptocurrency policy.
Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine on April 23, 2025, Lutnick detailed how the Trump administration is actively working to position the United States as a global hub for Bitcoin innovation, particularly in the mining sector.
EXCLUSIVE: 🇺🇸 US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on America’s #Bitcoin Strategy | The Full Bitcoin Magazine Interview pic.twitter.com/kWg0poMYrR
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) April 28, 2025
Investment Accelerator to Boost Bitcoin Mining
A central component of this strategy is the Commerce Department’s new investment accelerator, launched on March 31, which aims to streamline regulatory processes for companies looking to establish operations in the United States.
“We’re going to make it so that if you want to mine Bitcoin and you find the right place to do it, you can build your own power plant next to it,” Lutnick explained. He envisions Bitcoin miners setting up operations directly on gas fields, enabling them to power their data centers with waste gas.
“You don’t necessarily need to be on the grid,” he noted. “Miners are going to put their data centers on top of gas fields, and then put a plant right next to them so that they won’t be beholden to drawing power [from the existing grid].“
Lutnick believes this approach will allow miners to “control their destiny and control the cost of power,” which he predicts will “turbocharge Bitcoin mining in America.“
Bitcoin as a Commodity, Not Currency
The Commerce Secretary articulated a clear regulatory position on Bitcoin, classifying it as a commodity rather than a currency.
“Bitcoin is a commodity, and it should be treated like a commodity,” Lutnick stated. “It should be treated like oil. It should be treated like gold. It’s not a currency.“
This classification could have significant implications for how Bitcoin is integrated into America’s economic framework. Lutnick indicated he may consider having the Bureau of Economic Affairs (BEA) incorporate Bitcoin into its calculations in a manner similar to gold, which the bureau currently uses in its National Economic Accounts and International Transactions Accounts.
A Welcome Message to the Bitcoin Industry
Perhaps most significantly, Lutnick emphasized that the Bitcoin industry is now welcome in the United States after what he characterized as hostile treatment under the previous administration.
“America is the most extraordinary business place on Earth,” Lutnick said, adding that the current administration’s goal is to help the Bitcoin industry “win in America.“
“It was treated under the Biden administration like you were doing something wrong,” said Lutnick. “Now you have that in the rear view mirror, and it’ll never come back.“
The Secretary’s comments suggest that this pro-Bitcoin stance represents a permanent shift in US policy. “You’ve never seen the United States of America embrace something and then turn their back on it later,” he declared. “That’s never happened.“
Also Read: Bitcoin Becomes Fifth Largest Global Asset, Surpasses Google’s Market Cap
Strategic Importance for the US Economy
The interview indicates that Bitcoin is now viewed as strategically important to America’s economic future, with high-level government officials like Lutnick and White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks described as “true Bitcoin believers” working to integrate cryptocurrency into the nation’s economic infrastructure.
As Bitcoin has surged past $94,000, reaching a price of $94,874 as of publication time, institutional interest continues to grow. The strategic direction outlined by Secretary Lutnick suggests that the US government is now positioning itself to capitalise on and guide this emerging financial ecosystem rather than resist it.
The Commerce Department’s new approach represents a dramatic reversal from previous regulatory stances and signals that cryptocurrency policy has become a priority for the Trump administration as it seeks to maintain America’s position as a global economic leader.
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