Solana and XRP Surge Amid Trump’s Reported Consideration of ‘America-First’ Crypto Reserve, Though Experts Disagree

As President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches, speculation is building around the potential for a national strategic reserve for cryptocurrencies, but concerns have arisen about the inclusion of altcoins beyond Bitcoin (BTC).

Bitcoin has been a central figure in the discussion, with many hoping the U.S. government will adopt the cryptocurrency as a strategic asset. However, recent reports suggest that altcoins like Solana (SOL), XRP, and Hedera (HBAR) could also be included in Trump’s “America-first” reserve plan, sparking debate within the crypto community.

On Thursday, after the New York Post reported that Trump might be open to this idea, SOL saw a sharp rise of over 8%, reaching $217. XRP surged to $3.35, approaching its 2018 peak, while HBAR rose by more than 10%. This altcoin rally helped the CoinDesk 20 Index climb 5%, outpacing Bitcoin’s 0.5% rise, which brought the price of BTC back to just below $100,000.

The news about a possible strategic reserve has fueled investor optimism ahead of Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Trump had previously made promises during his campaign to place the U.S. at the forefront of the crypto space, including the creation of a national bitcoin stockpile. Additionally, various U.S. states have begun exploring or implementing laws to create their own reserves of bitcoin.

Despite the buzz, some market observers are skeptical about expanding a national reserve to include altcoins. Quinn Thompson, founder of Lekker Capital, dismissed the idea, calling it “a ridiculous proposal” on X. He argued, “The government should not be making speculative bets on altcoins. This narrative around a strategic reserve for non-BTC coins is misguided.”

Similarly, Anthony Georgiades of Innovating Capital voiced concerns about how nationalizing digital assets might undermine the decentralization ethos of blockchain projects. “Bitcoin is the only asset that is truly decentralized,” he said. “The others may get there, but nationalizing them could slow down their decentralization efforts.”

With the U.S. government potentially taking an active role in cryptocurrency, the debate over which tokens should be included in a national reserve continues to unfold. While Bitcoin remains the leading candidate, altcoins like Solana, XRP, and Hedera are also gaining attention as potential beneficiaries of the new administration’s crypto-friendly policies.

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