Arthur Hayes Criticizes U.S. Bitcoin Reserve Plan as Political Tool

• Arthur Hayes warns that the U.S. Bitcoin reserve could be exploited by politicians for short-term financial and political gains.
• Hayes argues that future crypto regulations may only benefit large centralized firms, making it harder for smaller innovators to compete.

The United States’ plan to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve appears to elicit more questions than answers. Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, believes that this move is not just a financial strategy but has the potential to become a dangerous political tool.

According to him, this decision is not merely to strengthen the economy but could also be a means for politicians to play a power game.

Bitcoin: Strategic Savings or Political Piggy Bank?

Hayes reminded that politicians, regardless of the party or political system in force, are always looking for easily accessible sources of funds.

He wrote, “To an incoming Democrat-controlled legislature or presidency, finding easy piles of cash to spend on goodies for their supporters is the first directive. It is the first directive of any politician, regardless of the political system in practice. There are one million Bitcoin just sitting there, ready to be sold; it just takes a signature on a piece of paper.”

For him, if Bitcoin is really used as a state reserve, its fate is only waiting for the signature of the officials in power to be sold for their political interests. In other words, this asset can easily turn from a long-term investment into a government emergency fund that is ready to be disbursed at any time.

Government Commitment to Bitcoin: Reality or Illusion?

It may sound ideal if the US government starts to adopt Bitcoin more seriously. However, Hayes doubts their seriousness in contributing to the Bitcoin ecosystem itself. Hayes stated:

“Are they going to donate to sponsor Bitcoin core devs? Are they going to run nodes? Maybe … but the way the BSR is talked about, it appears to me to be a set-it-and-forget-it type of exercise. Trump and the Republican Party can look at a mooning price of Bitcoin and claim mission accomplished.”

This statement reflects skepticism about how the Bitcoin reserve will be managed. Will the government really invest in the development of Bitcoin technology? Or is this just a policy aimed at short-term political gain?

Regulations That Are Not Friendly to Innovation

In addition to questioning the purpose behind the Bitcoin reserve, Hayes also highlighted the possibility of regulations that will follow if the government really enters the crypto industry. Unfortunately, he believes that the regulations that will be implemented later tend to benefit large companies rather than support innovation in this sector. He added:

“The crypto regulatory wishes are likely to be granted, if any are granted at all, will be in the form of overly complicated, prescriptive rules that only large and wealthy centralized companies can afford.”

In short, overly rigid regulations will only make it more difficult for small companies and independent innovators to survive, while big companies with abundant resources can still adapt. This is a pattern often seen in other industries: regulations that are well-intentioned actually create barriers for new players to develop.

The Future of Bitcoin in the Hands of Politicians

With all these possibilities, many are wondering whether the US Bitcoin reserve will actually bring benefits to the economy or just become a political instrument. If Hayes is right, then Bitcoin could turn into a traded asset like government bonds—something that can be sold at any time according to budget needs.

However, on the other hand, this idea also shows how Bitcoin is increasingly accepted in the global financial system. For its supporters, adoption by a country as large as the United States remains validation that the digital asset has a bigger role to play in the future. The question now is: is it in the public interest or just a few powerful elites?