David Marcus on Bitcoin Strategic Reserve: A New Era for Crypto in America?

In a recent CNBC interview, former PayPal President and Meta’s ex-head of crypto & payments, David Marcus, shared his thoughts on the evolving landscape of Bitcoin regulation in the United States. Marcus, who is now the CEO of Lightspark, a company building Bitcoin payment infrastructure, expressed optimism about the dramatic shift in Washington’s stance on crypto.

For years, U.S. regulators took a hostile approach to crypto, often stifling innovation. Marcus personally experienced this resistance when he attempted to launch a crypto payments project at Meta, only for it to be shut down by regulators. However, under the Trump administration, there has been a clear shift toward embracing Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

It’s a brand-new day for crypto in America. We’ve gone from suppression to actively discussing regulatory clarity, a Bitcoin strategic reserve, and how the U.S. can lead in this financial revolution.

With global competitors like China aggressively developing their own digital assets, Marcus believes the U.S. must act fast to maintain dominance in the next phase of the financial system.

🚀 David Marcus: “Bitcoin is a better version of gold.”
Is America preparing for a Bitcoin-backed future? 🔥 #Bitcoin #Crypto #BTC
🔗 Read more: https://t.co/uMf3ILaXvO pic.twitter.com/SNlLcnauXP
— CoinCodex (@CoinCodex) February 7, 2025

Why a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve?

A major focus of the interview was the possibility of the U.S. government creating a Bitcoin strategic reserve—a move Marcus believes could be a game-changer.

How Would It Work?

Marcus compared a Bitcoin reserve to America’s existing gold reserves, emphasizing that the U.S. is already the largest holder of gold globally. Given that Bitcoin is often referred to as “digital gold,” Marcus suggests that the government should consider rebalancing a portion of its gold reserves into BTC.

If Bitcoin is truly a better version of gold, why not allocate part of the reserve to this superior asset?

Bitcoin vs. Gold: The Case for BTC Reserves

Marcus argues that Bitcoin has far greater growth potential than gold over the next few decades. While gold remains a trusted store of value, it lacks the technological advantages, scarcity model, and portability of Bitcoin.

Key reasons Marcus sees Bitcoin as superior to gold:

Scarcity: Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million BTC makes it more predictable than gold, which still sees new mining supply.
Portability & Security: Unlike gold, Bitcoin can be transferred instantly and securely across borders.
Appreciation Potential: BTC’s historical performance has vastly outpaced gold, and it is likely to continue doing so.

Bitcoin has outperformed gold by 200% in the last 1 year.

A Turning Point for U.S. Bitcoin Policy

Marcus’ comments come at a time when crypto policy in Washington is rapidly shifting. With growing interest in Bitcoin ETFs, institutional adoption, and potential government involvement, it’s clear that BTC is no longer being dismissed as a speculative asset—but rather, as a strategic financial tool.

The idea of a U.S. Bitcoin reserve could signal the beginning of a new economic paradigm, where nations compete not just in gold reserves but in Bitcoin holdings.