Bitcoin Gets Special Treatment in US Crypto Reserve, Howard Lutnick Reveals Before White House Summit

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has hinted at a distinctive approach to Bitcoin within the framework of a potential U.S. crypto reserve. Speaking to The Pavlovic Today, an independent political news outlet, Lutnick shared insights into President Trump’s vision, which is expected to take shape at the White House’s inaugural Crypto Summit this Friday, March 7, 2025. The summit promises to shed light on how the administration plans to integrate digital assets into national strategy, with Bitcoin poised to play a starring role.

Lutnick emphasized that President Trump has long championed the idea of a Bitcoin strategic reserve, a concept he frequently highlighted during his campaign. According to Lutnick, the President views Bitcoin as a cornerstone of this initiative, distinct from other cryptocurrencies. “The President definitely thinks that there’s a Bitcoin strategic reserve,” Lutnick told the outlet, adding that the summit will address how other cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin fit into the broader plan.

He suggested that while these other digital coins such as Solana and Cardano, will be treated positively, their role will differ from Bitcoin’s “unique status.” This distinction could signal a tiered or weighted approach to crypto policy, potentially reshaping market dynamics and investor perceptions.

Crypto Summit to Unveil Key Details

The White House Crypto Summit, chaired by Trump’s Crypto Czar David Sacks and Bo Hines, Executive Director of the Presidential Working Group on Crypto, will bring together prominent industry figures.

Among the expected attendees are MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi, and Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov. Their presence underscores the administration’s intent to collaborate with leading voices in the crypto space as it crafts this ambitious reserve. President Trump’s directive, issued via an executive order in January, tasked the working group with advancing the U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve, initially spotlighting assets like BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, and XRP.

Market reactions to these developments have been swift but volatile. Following Trump’s Sunday announcement, Bitcoin surged 10%, Ethereum climbed 15%, XRP jumped 25%, Solana rose 30%, and ADA soared 70% from their respective lows last week.

However, the gains evaporated by Monday as Trump’s subsequent tariff announcement targeting imports from Canada, Mexico, and China triggered a risk-off mood across markets. Bitcoin shed over 10%, while Ethereum dropped more than 15%, erasing the optimism sparked by the reserve news. This rollercoaster reflects the uncertainty still swirling around the proposal.

Questions linger about the feasibility of the reserve, particularly regarding funding and legislative hurdles. Establishing such a reserve would likely involve the Federal Reserve or the Treasury Department, both of which would require Congressional approval for new authority or resources.