Trump Launches Crypto Program Amid Bitcoin Market Decline

President Donald Trump is pursuing policies to establish the United States as the global leader in digital assets, launching the Trump Accounts investment programme on July 6, 2026. Trump argues that U.S. leadership is a strategic necessity to prevent China from dominating the industry, comparing the competition to the race for artificial intelligence. To support this goal, his administration has rolled back regulations, appointed a crypto-friendly head to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is pursuing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.

Despite these efforts, the market remains volatile. Bitcoin has dropped 28 percent in 2026 to approximately $63,000. While Trump and his family earned $1.4 billion from crypto ventures, his $TRUMP meme coin collapsed, causing an estimated $3.8 billion in losses for one million investors. Additionally, Strategy, the largest corporate Bitcoin owner, reported $27 billion in losses through March, prompting leader Michael Saylor to authorize a $1.25 billion sell-off.

The administration is also attempting to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve using seized assets and budget-neutral purchases. However, the plan faces internal resistance as the Department of the Treasury and Department of Commerce dispute which agency has the legal authority to manage the holdings. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in February that he lacks the authority to use public funds to bail out Bitcoin. The Department of Justice is currently evaluating a legal structure for the reserve, which would consolidate over $20 billion in Bitcoin held across various federal agencies.