Trump Administration’s National Security Strategy Sidelines Cryptocurrencies: A Strategic Blind Spot?

Washington sidelines digital assets in national security calculus—crypto finds itself off the strategic radar.

The Geopolitical Omission

The administration's latest framework bypasses blockchain's disruptive potential entirely. No mention of decentralized finance's role in sanction evasion, no nod to crypto's growing clout in global remittances, and zero acknowledgment of state-backed digital currencies. It's a glaring omission for a technology reshaping global capital flows.

Finance's New Frontier, Security's Old Playbook

Traditional security hawks still view finance through legacy banking channels—meanwhile, billions move peer-to-peer across borders without a SWIFT message in sight. The strategy document reads like a manual for a financial system that's already being quietly bypassed, a bit like planning coastal defenses while the enemy tunnels underground.

The Unseen Battlefield

Nation-states aren't sleeping on this. Rival powers actively develop central bank digital currencies and crypto infrastructure as strategic tools. By sidelining the asset class, the strategy potentially cedes ground in a critical emerging domain—where financial innovation intersects directly with national influence.

Closing Thought: Sometimes the most strategic move is recognizing what's already moving. While policymakers debate traditional levers of power, cryptocurrency keeps rewriting the rules of economic engagement—no permission needed.

Amidst global technological advancements, the Trump administration’s national security strategy has conspicuously overlooked the significance of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Although these digital innovations have garnered substantial attention in the international arena, the strategy selectively highlights other core technologies as pivotal to the nation’s interests. The oversight raises questions about the future of digital finance in the context of U.S. strategic priorities. As other nations invest substantially in the digital financial landscape, the absence of explicit references to cryptocurrency assets in the strategy signals a potentially cautious approach by the U.S.

What Did the Strategy Highlight?

The administration’s strategy document prioritizes artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing as essential for maintaining U.S. leadership in global tech standards. These technologies are seen as foundational to economic and security power, with a pointed focus on pushing U.S. standards to the forefront globally.

We want to ensure that U.S. technology and U.S. standards—particularly in AI, biotech, and quantum computing—drive the world forward.

This statement underscores the administration’s unwavering determination to excel in select fields.

Why Isn’t Cryptocurrency Included?

Despite President Trump’s vocal stance on the competition with China over cryptocurrencies, digital assets are notably omitted from the security strategy. No explicit mention of Bitcoin$90,755 or blockchain creates ambiguity around their relevance in U.S. national security considerations. While the strategy alludes to preserving the financial sector’s dominance, it stops short of directly addressing cryptocurrencies and blockchain. This omission suggests a deliberate yet unstated stance on these technological assets.

The apparent exclusion aligns with recent trends indicating a decline in value for Trump-affiliated cryptocurrencies and related assets. Figures show a significant drop in the trading values of these digital assets, reflecting potential volatility concerns that might have influenced the strategy’s priorities.

Furthermore, President Trump’s evident intent to dominate Bitcoin mining within U.S. borders contrasts with the strategic oversight, reflecting a divergence between public pronouncements and documented plans. This gap leaves observers questioning the future positioning of digital currencies in U.S. policy.

It remains to be seen how this omission will impact the U.S. digital finance sphere, especially as other major players, including China, aggressively explore opportunities within the sector. Observers and industry experts will closely monitor whether this oversight might pivot future administrations to recalibrate their approach to cryptocurrencies.

The TRUMP administration’s decision to exclude cryptocurrency from the national security strategy invites diverse interpretations and signals a potential oversight or strategic avoidance. Concentrating on AI, biotech, and quantum computing could steer innovation within these realms. However, the ambiguous stance on digital assets may affect the country’s position in the rapidly expanding digital finance market, especially as other nations invest heavily in the blockchain ecosystem. Observers and stakeholders in digital finance continue to speculate on potential adjustments in U.S. policy towards cryptocurrencies.