Marathon Digital Holdings CEO: "U.S. needs a strategic Bitcoin reserve"

Calls have emerged for the United States to accelerate building a Bitcoin (BTC) stockpile.

On the 17th (Korea time), Fred Thiel, CEO of Marathon Digital Holdings, said at an event, "If countries are moving toward strategically holding and trading Bitcoin, the United States should also secure a sizable amount of Bitcoin. Bitcoin mining is not simply mining; it is a core function responsible for processing Bitcoin transactions and securing the network," adding that "if most of the global hashrate is concentrated overseas, it could pose a strategic risk to the United States."

He continued, "If 80% of the world’s hashrate exists outside the United States, leadership over the Bitcoin network could also shift overseas," stressing that "to respond, it is important to expand Bitcoin mining infrastructure within the United States."

Thiel said this would require improvements in energy policy and the regulatory environment. He said, "To expand Bitcoin mining in the United States, more flexible energy policies and streamlined permitting procedures must follow." He added, "The reason the United States stockpiles oil and gold is not due to supply shortages, but to secure a means of defense if the value of the dollar is threatened," and that "Bitcoin, too, could become a strategic asset capable of responding to risks to the monetary system in the future."