Overview
- Bitget CEO Gracy Chen told reporters on Friday, August 21, 2026, that she does not expect the U.S. to make open-market Bitcoin purchases for the reserve before President Trump’s term ends.
- The executive order that created the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve limits holdings to Bitcoin seized or forfeited, bars use of taxpayer funds for purchases, and forbids market sales of reserve coins.
- Public estimates put the reserve at roughly 198,000 BTC, which is about 1% of circulating supply, though different agency counts have produced larger aggregate figures.
- As of mid-2026 no open-market purchases have been made and officials are focused on legal, custodial and governance work to manage seized coins rather than on buying more.
- Because buys would need new Congressional authorization and budget action, market attention should shift from anticipated sovereign demand to supply effects from locked-up coins and other demand drivers like ETFs and corporate holdings.