Donald Trump’s statement about forming a U.S. crypto reserve with altcoins reflects his classic negotiation strategy, according to Taproot Wizards co-founder Udi Wertheimer.

the best take i’ve seen by far regarding the strategic reserve is that this is just classic trump negotiation tactic

for a true reserve to happen trump will have to convince congress, he can’t decide on his own

whenever trump needs to convince others stakeholders he always…
— Udi | BIP-420 🐱 (@udiWertheimer) March 2, 2025

On March 2, Trump instructed a digital asset markets task force to push forward with the creation of a strategic cryptocurrency reserve, including SOL, XRP, and ADA. He later added that the fund would also hold Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Following the announcement, Bitcoin surged to $95,000, while the mentioned altcoins saw double-digit gains. However, the market later corrected, bringing BTC back to $84,000, as investors grappled with the uncertainty of Trump’s initiative, which requires Congressional approval.

“Whenever Trump wants to convince other stakeholders, he starts with an absurd proposal he can later walk back: ‘Trump’s Gaza,’ annexing Canada, and now the ‘strategic Cardano reserve,’” Wertheimer explained.

He suggested that Trump’s real message to lawmakers was: “If you don’t give me the SBR, I’ll shove Ripple down your throats.”

While acknowledging it was just a theory, Wertheimer found it highly plausible.

Marex Solutions senior global markets strategist Ilan Solot shared a similar view, telling CoinDesk that Trump’s crypto reserve statement is likely a negotiation tactic.

“He’s calling for a reserve with XRP, SOL, and ADA, only to eventually settle for BTC (and maybe ETH),” Solot said.

Omkar Godbole, managing editor at CoinDesk, pointed out Trump’s real estate background, where the tactic of “ask for $1,000 to settle for $500” is a classic approach.

Meanwhile, Euro Pacific Capital president and Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff urged Congress to investigate Trump, calling the move “the biggest crypto scam in history.”