Trump Hosts First White House Crypto Summit: What to Expect

As President Donald Trump Donald Trump Donald Trump is an American former president politician, businessman, and media personality, who served as the 45th president of the U.S. between 2017 to 2021. Trump earned a Bachelor of science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote. As president, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, diverted military funding toward building a wall on the U.S.–Mexico border, and implemented a family separation policy. Trump has remained a prominent figure in the Republican Party and is considered a likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election President prepares to host the first-ever White House Crypto Summit today, over 20 major industry leaders have confirmed their attendance. The event, scheduled from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM UTC, will bring together key figures from both the crypto sector and the U.S. government.

Who’s Attending?

According to Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett, at least 22 crypto executives and two White House representatives have confirmed their participation. The Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets—comprising Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the heads of the SEC and CFTC—is also expected to take part in discussions.

However, some prominent figures, including Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), have yet to confirm their attendance. Ardoino was recently seen at a separate crypto CEO forum hosted by the CFTC in Washington, D.C., alongside Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, Crypto.com’s Kris Marszalek, and Coinbase’s Greg Tusar.

For those not invited to the main roundtable discussions, an exclusive reception is being planned near the White House.

Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Hit or Flop?

The summit comes in the wake of Trump’s recent executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile, sparking intense debate within the crypto community. The order clarifies that the U.S. government will hold only seized Bitcoin—roughly 200,000 BTC—rather than making fresh purchases.

Initially, the market reacted with excitement, speculating that the government might actively buy Bitcoin. However, the fine print revealed no immediate acquisition plans, leading to swift disappointment and price volatility.

In simple terms, instead of buying Bitcoin, the U.S. will only retain confiscated assets from enforcement actions. While some traders saw this as a letdown, others viewed it as a long-term bullish signal, as it recognizes Bitcoin as a store of value, provides regulatory clarity, and suggests a potential shift away from aggressive lawsuits against crypto firms.

Mixed Reactions from the Industry

Despite the policy’s long-term implications, 10x Research noted that many in the community were expecting outright Bitcoin purchases rather than just stockpiling seized assets.

However, Coinbase’s Conor Grogan noted that by holding onto this BTC, Trump’s decision effectively removed $18 billion in sell-side pressure, which could be a long-term bullish factor.

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Well, What’s Next?

As the summit unfolds, many in the industry are pushing for broader representation in future discussions. Calls have grown louder for key figures such as ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood, Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin, Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson, and Solana’s Anatoly Yakovenko to be included in upcoming policy talks.

Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve signals long-term confidence in Bitcoin by locking up seized assets without taxpayer spending, easing concerns over potential sell-offs. However, altcoins in the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile face uncertainty, as they could be liquidated at any time. Unless policies change, this remains a bearish signal for non-Bitcoin assets.