Why is the U. S. Bitcoin Reserve Taking So Long?

The U. S. government has been working on setting up a Bitcoin reserve since March 2025. The plan is to use Bitcoin that has been seized by federal agencies. However, the process is taking longer than expected. The White House crypto advisor, Patrick Witt, recently talked about the delays. He mentioned that there are some complicated legal issues that are slowing things down. Witt explained that different agencies are trying to figure out who can actually create the reserve. Even though there are delays, the Bitcoin reserve is still a priority. Agencies like the Department of Justice and the Office of Legal Counsel are working on the legal and regulatory aspects. Witt assured that the administration is committed to making it happen.President Trump has big plans for Bitcoin. He wants the U. S. to be a "Bitcoin superpower" and the "crypto capital" of the world. However, the lack of progress on the Bitcoin reserve has left some people in the crypto community disappointed. In July 2025, the White House released a crypto policy report. It mentioned the reserve but didn't provide any new details. In August, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent initially said the government wouldn't buy more Bitcoin. But the next day, he changed his mind and said the Treasury is looking for ways to get more Bitcoin for the reserve. In October, CleanSpark's CEO met with Bessent and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott. They revealed that the U. S. government already holds about $17 billion in Bitcoin. They also mentioned plans to keep adding more Bitcoin to the reserve.