BitMEX Co-Founder Arthur Hayes Calls Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve a ‘Low Priority’ — Is Crypto Really on His Radar?

Arthur Hayes Questions Trump's Potential Bitcoin Reserve Plan

Donald Trump has returned to office as the 47th president of the United States, but his 30-minute outline of policy priorities in his second term disappointed crypto investors as he did not mention cryptocurrency.

Speculation had been building about his plans for digital assets, especially after he introduced the idea of a "Strategic National Bitcoin Stockpile" during a Bitcoin conference in July.

While the exact purpose remains unclear, Trump proposed that cryptocurrency seized during criminal prosecutions could be held in this stockpile, with the policy of never selling it.

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX and Chief Investment Officer of cryptocurrency venture capital firm Maelstrom, has expressed skepticism about the U.S. government, under Donald Trump's leadership, establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve.

Despite the optimism from crypto enthusiasts, Hayes remains unconvinced that such a policy will be a priority.

Hayes on Borrowing for Bitcoin: “I Don’t Think It Helps”

In a recent interview, the former CEO of BitMEX stated,

“I don't think Trump will get around to doing a bitcoin reserve.”

Hayes questioned the practicality of borrowing funds to invest in Bitcoin, especially when it does not align with Trump's core political platforms.

He added,

“At the end of the day, I don't know how borrowing money to buy bitcoin helps on any of Trump's platforms.”

Reportedly the youngest African American crypto billionaire in history, Arthur Hayes is known for his predictions about the crypto market, including concerns that Trump's policies may lead to a market downturn.

Trump's Past with Crypto is A Double-Edged Sword

While Trump has shown interest in the crypto space by launching meme coins before his inauguration, Hayes doubts that this translates into a commitment to Bitcoin as a national reserve asset.

For hardline Bitcoin supporters, such a reserve would signify a major milestone, but Hayes highlighted the competing demands on government resources.

Election Time Constraints and Policy Priorities

Hayes pointed out the limited timeframe before the midterm elections as a significant barrier to implementing major policy shifts, including a Bitcoin reserve.

He elaborated on the numerous other priorities the government has, which would likely take precedence over Bitcoin.

Hayes queried,

“You have so much borrowing capacity before you destroy the bond market. Are you gonna borrow money to buy bitcoin? Are you gonna borrow money to give health care to the seniors who voted you in, or to build more bombs so that the defense lobby likes you?”

Competing Interests for Government Spending

Hayes highlighted the competition among various interest groups for government spending, suggesting that Bitcoin might not be a top contender.

He remarked,

“Whilst as important as bitcoin bros think they are, there's a lot of other interested parties that want that borrowed money to go into their pockets.”

Maelstrom’s Investment Approach: Speculation with a Pessimistic Outlook

Under Hayes' guidance, Maelstrom focuses on investing in early-stage crypto projects with seed funding ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, primarily acquiring tokens rather than equity.

Hayes candidly described their approach:

“Let's not kid ourselves, it's raw speculation. Most of these things will be zeros.”

Despite the high-risk nature of his investments, Hayes’ fund has seen recent successes, including its backing of Ethena Labs, a stablecoin project.

Hayes Sees Bitcoin Reserve as Low Priority

As Hayes continues to gain attention in the crypto space with his fund's unconventional approach, he remains firm in his view that Bitcoin’s potential as a U.S. reserve asset is not a priority for Trump.

While crypto enthusiasts may dream of such a reserve, Hayes points to a reality where other interests will likely take precedence in Washington.

Currently, the U.S. owns 198,109 bitcoins, valued at around $20.27 billion, according to BitcoinTreasuries, all of which were seized during the Silk Road investigation.