US Government Considering Buying Bitcoin Using Tariff Revenue: Bo Hines

Top White House advisers are actively exploring new ways for the US government to acquire Bitcoin without increasing the federal budget or burdening taxpayers, according to Bo Hines, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets.

In a recent interview at the White House with investor Anthony Pompliano, Hines said the administration is considering a broad set of creative approaches. These include, among others, using tariff revenue and revaluing gold reserves.

Further, he said that any move to accumulate Bitcoin must be “budget neutral” and that the administration is confident about finding viable solutions.

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 President Trump's Executive Director Bo Hines said the US may buy #Bitcoin using revenue from tariffs. pic.twitter.com/JxnYeFx170

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) April 15, 2025

Treasury Assets May Be Revalued for Digital Reserves

“We have, as the President likes to say, many high IQ people working on these solutions,” Hines said. He also pointed to ongoing discussions among agencies such as the Department of Commerce and the Treasury, coordinated through an interagency working group.

One prominent idea gaining traction is linked to the Bitcoin Act of 2025, spearheaded by Senator Cynthia Lummis. The bill proposes revaluing outdated gold certificates currently held by the US Treasury.

These certificates are still recorded at around $43 an ounce, despite gold trading above $3,216 today. Updating the valuation to match current market prices could unlock billions in surplus capital. The government could then redeploy that into Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset.

Hines acknowledged that the proposal is still moving through Congress. He noted, “we’ll see how many co-sponsors she can get” as it progresses. Yet he said that the administration is not limiting itself to just one option.

Hines: Tariff Revenue May Offer External Path to Build Bitcoin Holdings

Tariffs, which have surged in relevance amid rising US-China tensions and a wave of protectionist policies, are also on the table. Hines suggested that future tariff collections could create a new stream of external revenue. This money could be used to accumulate Bitcoin. It would avoid simply reshuffling existing federal assets.

“There’s literally countless ways in which you can do this,” Hines said, hinting at a wider brainstorming effort taking place across federal agencies. “Everything’s on the table. We want as much as we can get.”

The strategy reflects a broader vision Hines has articulated. His recent comments echo what he said at the Blockworks Digital Asset Summit 2025. There, he described Bitcoin as a commodity with intrinsic value. He also said it should be treated as a strategic asset.

Further, he said that building national reserves in digital assets is “imperative for the United States.”