On March 2, 2025, Donald Trump made an announcement that instantly became a sensation in the financial world. He announced the launch of the U.S. Strategic Crypto Reserve, with five key digital coins: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP (Ripple), Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA). Right after the announcement, the markets surged, and discussions took off among both beginners and experts.
What Is the U.S. Strategic Crypto Reserve?
The U.S. Strategic Crypto Reserve is a government-held stockpile of cryptocurrencies, created for storage and potential use of key digital assets. The USA already has similar reserves, like the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which helps stabilize the oil market during crises and supply disruptions.
Now, digital assets are also recognized as a strategic resource, not just an investment tool. The creation of this crypto reserve marks a shift in policy - cryptocurrency is no longer an outsider in the USA financial system but an essential part of it. Which cryptocurrencies are included in this reserve, and why are they important? Let’s take a closer look.
Statement by Donald Trump on the Creation of the U.S. Strategic Crypto Reserve. Source: truthsocial.com
Bitcoin (BTC) – The Ideal Reserve Asset
If there is one cryptocurrency that truly deserves to be called digital gold, it’s BTC. It was the first, it is the most important, and it remains the foundation of the crypto market. Launched in 2009, Bitcoin introduced a new financial era and proved that value can exist independently of banks, governments, and intermediaries. BTC is included in the crypto reserve because it is the most reliable, time-tested, and widely recognized cryptocurrency, maintaining its relevance and stability for 16 years.
Why Is BTC in The Reserve?
-
The first cryptocurrency: Bitcoin laid the foundation for all other digital assets and continues to lead the market with a capitalization of $1.72 trillion.
-
Limited supply: There will never be more than 21 million BTC in circulation, making it a scarce asset that increases in value over time.
-
Security: Powered by the Proof-of-Work algorithm, Bitcoin’s high computational requirements make its blockchain nearly impossible to hack.
-
Global recognition: BTC is used by major investors and corporations as a store of value and a long-term asset.
-
Decentralization: The network is not controlled by governments, banks, or corporations, making Bitcoin resistant to external interference.
Thanks to these characteristics, BTC is the perfect reserve asset, providing stability, reliability, and long-term value.
Ethereum (ETH) – An Innovative Platform for Decentralized Finance
Launched in 2015, Ethereum was the first cryptocurrency to support smart contracts, paving the way for decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFTs. Today, it is more than just a blockchain - it is a key technological platform powering thousands of projects. ETH, its main digital asset, is used for transaction fees and blockchain interactions. In the USA, Ethereum’s popularity is growing rapidly, with major Web3 companies actively supporting it. Its importance goes far beyond being just a payment method, making it one of the key assets in the crypto reserve.
Why Is ETH in The Reserve?
-
The first cryptocurrency for smart contracts: Pioneered blockchain innovation and continues to lead with a market capitalization of $263.05 billion.
-
DeFi and financial revolution: Became the foundation of decentralized finance (DeFi), allowing users to borrow, trade, and earn without relying on banks.
-
Leader in NFT: Ethereum is the top platform for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), enabling ownership of digital assets, art, and virtual real estate.
-
Expanding ecosystem: Supports DeFi, NFTs, and Layer 2 solutions, increasing efficiency and use cases.
-
Evolving through upgrades: Constantly improving, with the transition to Proof-of-Stake (Ethereum 2.0) reducing energy consumption by over 99%, making it more sustainable and scalable.
Ethereum continues to evolve, but high network demand results in expensive gas fees, especially compared to Solana and other faster blockchains.
XRP – The Ideal Cryptocurrency for International Payments
XRP, created by Ripple in 2012, is one of the most widely used cryptocurrencies in finance and global payments. Its main goal is to make cross-border transactions faster and cheaper, offering banks and payment systems an alternative to traditional methods. Unlike many other cryptocurrencies, XRP is actively used in traditional finance, and Ripple is one of the largest blockchain companies in the USA.
“XRP is great technology, a global standard. It has survived many market cycles and has one of the strongest crypto communities. I think the president made the right decision,” said Hoskinson, co-founder of Cardano.
Why Is XRP in The Reserve?
-
Large market capitalization: $140.84 billion, showing stability and trust from major investors.
-
Fast and low-cost transactions: Transfers take only 3–5 seconds with very low fees, making XRP ideal for large-scale financial operations.
-
Strong banking and government connections: Ripple, the company behind XRP, collaborates with banks, central banks, and global financial organizations.
-
Impact on international finance: XRP is already used for cross-border payments, which could strengthen the USA’s role in the global financial system.
-
Proven technological reliability: XRP Ledger has been running smoothly since 2012, with a stable and decentralized network of nodes.
XRP has a unique position in the financial sector, but its centralized structure makes it different from other cryptocurrencies. A significant portion of XRP is controlled by Ripple, making it less decentralized than Bitcoin or Ethereum. However, with its speed, stability, and deep integration into banking, XRP remains a key asset in the crypto reserve.
Solana (SOL) – A High-Speed Blockchain for Scalable Solutions
Solana is a modern blockchain launched in 2020, known for its high speed and efficiency. In the USA, it is backed by major venture capital firms and is rapidly gaining popularity. Its native token SOL is used for transaction fees and interactions with decentralized applications.
Recently, Donald Trump launched the meme token OFFICIAL TRUMP on the Solana blockchain, further increasing attention to the network.
Why Is SOL in The Reserve?
-
Large market capitalization: $74.03 billion, showing high demand and strong investor confidence.
-
High scalability and performance: Solana can process over 65,000 transactions per second, making it ideal for large-scale projects and applications that require high throughput.
-
American origin: Developed by American engineers, aligning with the administration’s goal to support national blockchain projects.
-
Energy efficiency: Solana uses Proof-of-History (PoH), which is far more energy-efficient than Proof-of-Work (PoW) used in Bitcoin, making it a greener alternative.
Solana offers fast speeds and low fees, making it more efficient than Ethereum in this aspect. However, it is less reliable and stable compared to Ethereum.
Active addresses and active wallets in Solana. Source: coinmetrics
Cardano (ADA) – A Scientific Approach to Blockchain
Cardano is a next-generation blockchain launched in 2017 by Charles Hoskinson, a co-founder of Ethereum. The project is supported by universities and research institutions in the USA, and its development is based on thorough analysis and a scientific approach. In the Cardano ecosystem, the ADA token plays a key role, being used for transactions and interactions with decentralized applications.
Why Is Cardano in The Reserve?
-
Large market capitalization: $30.52 billion, showing stability and trust from major investors.
-
Scientific approach to development: All upgrades and improvements in Cardano go through detailed analysis and expert review, making the network reliable and sustainable.
-
High security and stability: Designed with a focus on network reliability and protection against attacks, making it one of the most secure blockchains.
-
Government and corporate partnerships: Cardano actively collaborates with governments and organizations to implement blockchain technology in various economic sectors.
Although Cardano has a strong foundation, it updates more slowly than competitors due to its rigorous scientific review process. In DeFi and NFTs, it is currently less popular than Ethereum and Solana.
TVL (Total Value Locked) on the Cardano blockchain. Source: defillama.com
What About Other Coins in the U.S. Crypto Reserve?
Trump stated that the list of five cryptocurrencies is not final, and more assets may be added in the future. While no official announcements have been made yet, let’s imagine which top three coins could join the ranks of the crypto reserve.
-
Sui (SUI): Sui represents the next generation of blockchains, capable of processing massive transaction volumes without delays or congestion. With a market capitalization of over $10 billion, it has gained strong investor confidence, and its advanced architecture makes it a powerful tool for financial applications. If the U.S. crypto reserve is focused on cutting-edge technology, SUI is one of the most obvious candidates.
-
Unichain: Developed by the team behind Uniswap - the largest DEX with over $1 billion in daily trading volume, Unichain is designed to enhance performance, reduce fees, and optimize DeFi interactions. Integrated with Ethereum, it remains compatible with millions of users and decentralized applications.
-
Aptos (APT): A blockchain capable of processing up to 160,000 transactions per second sounds like science fiction - but it’s a reality for Aptos . This network is built for high-speed transactions, security, and scalability, attracting more developers and major players. Aptos proves that blockchains can be not only fast but also highly reliable.
With Gem Wallet, anyone can create their own crypto reserve, including not only Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano but also other promising cryptocurrencies!
