On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, I sat down with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to debate his Bitcoin imaginative and prescient for America.
We mentioned the U.S. Division of Commerce’s new funding accelerator that can profit Bitcoin mining corporations; why he views bitcoin as a commodity, like gold; and why it’s solely pure that the Bitcoin trade finds a house in america.
Bitcoin Miners to Profit from Funding Accelerator
On March 31, 2025, the Commerce Division launched an investment accelerator.
The purpose of the accelerator is to assist companies that wish to spend money on America get new tasks off the bottom.
It assists by making clear to corporations what laws they need to perceive, and it helps them to acquire the required permits.
Secretary Lutnick envisions the funding accelerator being useful to Bitcoin mining corporations.
“We’re going to make it in order that if you wish to mine Bitcoin and you discover the suitable place to do it, you possibly can construct your personal energy plant subsequent to it,” mentioned Secretary Lutnick within the interview.
“You don’t essentially must be on the grid, and you will see this occur: miners are going to place their information facilities on high of fuel fields, after which put a plant proper subsequent to them in order that they received’t be behold to drawing energy [from the existing grid],” he added, alluding to the notion that Bitcoin miners can use waste gas to power their operations.
“You’ll see the following technology of miners in America will have the ability to management their future and management the price of energy, [which], I believe, goes to turbocharge Bitcoin mining in America.”
Bitcoin as a Commodity
Towards the center of the interview, Lutnick expressed that he views bitcoin as a commodity and never as a foreign money.
“Bitcoin is a commodity, and it must be handled like a commodity,” mentioned Secretary Lutnick.
“It must be handled like oil. It must be handled like gold,” he added.
“It’s not a foreign money.”
Secretary Lutnick acknowledged that in treating bitcoin as a commodity, he would possibly think about having the Bureau of Economic Affairs (BEA) make use of bitcoin in its calculations the identical manner it employs gold.
At present, the BEA makes use of gold to refine and calculate its Nationwide Financial Accounts, which incorporates GDP. The bureau additionally accounts for gold in commerce statistics, recording gold exports and imports as a part of its International Transactions Accounts (ITAs).
Bitcoin Is Welcome in america
Secretary Lutnick careworn that the Bitcoin trade is welcome in america.
He famous that the present administration has true Bitcoin believers in it, like himself and White Home AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks, and that he needs to see Bitcoin thrive in America.
“America is probably the most extraordinary enterprise place on Earth,” mentioned Secretary Lutnick.
He added that the purpose is for the Bitcoin trade to determine the right way to “win in America” as a result of the Trump administration plans to assist the trade obtain the best diploma of success right here, an method that’s the polar reverse method of the earlier administration’s.
“It was handled beneath the Biden administration such as you have been doing one thing incorrect,” mentioned Secretary Lutnick.
“Now you’ve gotten that within the rear view mirror, and it’ll by no means come again,” he added.
And when he mentioned “by no means,” he didn’t simply imply by no means so far as the Trump administration is anxious. He meant that america is a Bitcoin nation from right here on out.
“You’ve by no means seen america of America embrace one thing after which flip their again on it later,” mentioned Secretary Lutnick. “That’s by no means occurred.”