As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration, his administration has been busy courting and setting the stage for a greater integration of the digital assets industry into the U.S. market. Sources from his camp indicate an executive order on digital assets is planned for day one with the promise of transformative regulations for his term. This directive would serve as guidance for all government agencies and employees on how to interact with the industry and implement existing policies and laws–it does not, however, create any new laws or regulations.

For those unfamiliar with the scope of executive orders, it’s important to note that while the Constitution grants the executive branch its powers, it makes no explicit mention of executive orders themselves. Instead, the President’s authority to issue such directives is derived from the constitutional mandate to “faithfully execute” the laws of Congress. Under the Biden administration, a prior executive order on cryptocurrency and digital assets focused largely on research and caution, emphasizing investor protections and market stability rather than decisive action. While executive orders often serve as a signal of an administration’s policy priorities, the incoming President has already made his stance on digital assets clear. As such, this particular order, despite the buzz surrounding it, may not warrant the level of fanfare it’s currently receiving—at least not yet.
Among the expected initiatives his administration is speculated to execute is the creation of a digital asset reserve. It is modeled after the concept of gold reserves, to hedge against economic volatility. Additionally, there have been discussions on establishing a Crypto Advisory Council, designed to guide policy, encourage innovation, and address necessary protections. These efforts signal a departure from past administrations’ negligent approach, marking a strong intention of integrating digital assets into the economy.
Key government appointments reflect the administration’s commitment to this pathway including the appointment of Paul Atkins to chair the SEC. Meanwhile, David Sacks, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, has been named to tackle initiatives on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency as a White House advisor. These moves have already begun to impact the market, with Bitcoin’s price surpassing $100,000 in anticipation of a friendlier regulatory environment. If implemented, these policies could reshape the global landscape for digital assets, solidifying America’s leadership in this rapidly evolving sector. For meaningful change to take hold, it must first navigate Congress and be enacted into law—only then can the administration’s ambitions and industry plans gain solid footing.