The Trump administration has recently issued an executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (and a stockpile of other shitcoins, which we’ll quickly set aside). Many regard this as a paradigm shift—nation-states reassessing Bitcoin, potentially sparking a game theory contest on the global stage.
A strategic reserve is a government-held stockpile of essential resources or assets—such as oil or gold—designed to endure crises or support long-term objectives. These reserves provide a buffer against supply disruptions, economic instability, or geopolitical tensions. The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, for instance, stockpiles oil to ensure energy security. While the precise intent remains uncertain, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve likely aims to hedge by hoarding the world's hardest asset.
The future is unpredictable, so we must hedge its risks—or, more simply, save for a rainy day. Lowering time preference and deferring consumption to preserve capital was once a widely accepted principle. Today, in a world dominated by debt and consumerism, saving feels outdated. You can hoard various goods to hedge, but money, as the most saleable asset, offers the strongest shield against uncertainty. By holding money, you retain the flexibility to trade for anything, preparing for whatever lies ahead. This creates a personal buffer against setbacks like unemployment and lays the groundwork for future stability.
Most in the West grew up with abundance, and even persistent recent crises have not disrupted that fundamental sense of security for most. We’ve allowed foundational habits, rooted since the dawn of civilisation, to fade from memory. A key culprit is our financial system. Fiat currencies erode steadily, like snow melting in spring—store them away, and inflation diminishes their value over time. As a result, people turn to investing: ETFs, equities, anything promising growth. Yet investing differs from saving. Saving means securing money in low-risk, accessible forms for later use. Investing, by nature, involves risk—capital is staked for the chance of higher returns. Fiat has rendered traditional saving impossible.
Bitcoin transforms this reality and stands as the most effective saving technology humanity has developed. Limited to 21 million coins, it is hard money, immune to inflationary decay as its supply cannot be arbitrarily increased. Unlike fiat, which governments expand at will, Bitcoin’s scarcity is fixed by design—beyond manipulation. It surpasses gold, offering digital ease—movable across borders and divisible with precision. Its decentralised nature ensures no authority can dilute it. For the first time, individuals can save across decades with confidence their wealth will hold. The U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve reflects this: hedging the future requires saving, and Bitcoin provides the strongest tool. Consider building your own reserve-and keep it in cold storage of course.