Ex-White House Crypto Chief Says U.S. Needs Congress Approval to Buy Bitcoin

TLDR:

• Witt states Bitcoin purchases require specific congressional permission given that Congress manages financing.
• An early relocation might lead Congress to include an NDAA arrangement prohibiting federal government Bitcoin purchases.
• Federal government Bitcoin holdings are not totally investigated, and previous custody practices were seriously insufficient.
• Alternatives consist of repricing gold, the Exchange Stabilization Fund, and accepting Bitcoin invoices.

Patrick Witt, previous executive director of the White House Crypto Council, stated the U.S. federal government requires specific congressional permission to lawfully purchase Bitcoin.

He made the remark on November 10, 2026, in an interview with What Bitcoin Did. President Donald Trump has an interest in contributing to the federal government’s holdings, according to Witt.

Legal concerns stay over direct open-market purchases. Authorities likewise have actually not settled how to purchase without activating an unfavorable market response.

Congressional Approval and the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Patrick Witt stated the administration wishes to codify the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) and safe specific approval from Congress. Congress manages appropriations.

It would require to reveal that Bitcoin purchases fit the initial function of existing funds. The administration has actually gone over a number of methods to contribute to the holdings.

Witt likewise alerted versus moving too early. An early action might trigger Congress to include an arrangement to the National Defense Authorization Act.

Such an arrangement would prohibit federal government Bitcoin purchases. That result would compromise efforts to protect permission.

Witt stated he signed up with the White House momentarily to assist advance crypto legislation. He remained for more than a year. After the market-structure costs stalled in the Senate, he chose to carry on.

The administration’s early top priorities consisted of ending what it referred to as “Operation Choke Point 2.0.” It likewise intended to develop the SBR and enhance custody of government-held digital properties.

Patrick Witt sees the GENIUS stablecoin law as valuable in minimizing hesitation towards crypto. The law was not a Bitcoin-specific procedure.

Custody Gaps and Possible Acquisition Routes

Patrick Witt stated the federal government’s Bitcoin holdings have actually not been totally investigated to a high level of precision. Agencies offered a preliminary, unequal action.

More work is underway to enhance tracking. Legal unpredictability, firm capability, and the audit’s scope have actually slowed development.

He explained previous custody practices as seriously insufficient. Examples consisted of cold wallets kept in drawers and a supposed theft including possessions held by the U.S. Marshals.

Witt argued that safe custody systems need to come. Just then can authorities properly think about acquisitions or conversions into Bitcoin.

Authorities have actually talked about numerous techniques to including Bitcoin. These consist of repricing gold, utilizing the Exchange Stabilization Fund, and transforming other federal government properties. Another concept is accepting some invoices in Bitcoin.

Direct market purchases, nevertheless, raise unsolved legal concerns. Any such action might likewise deal with analysis. Patrick Witt anticipates Treasury’s custody work to be fundamental.

Witt likewise argued that Bitcoin has tactical worth beyond financial investment. He pointed out worldwide peer-to-peer worth transfer, a shop of worth amidst currency debasement, and national-security usages.

He cautioned that executive orders can be reversed by future administrations. His workplace avoided of pardon choices, and he advised clear interaction on quantum and cyber dangers.