A new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a move that could further integrate Bitcoin into the nation’s financial strategy.

Trump signed an executive order on March 7 to use Bitcoin (BTC) seized in government criminal cases to establish a national reserve.

The legislation, introduced by US Representative Byron Donalds, seeks to ensure the Bitcoin reserve becomes a permanent fixture, preventing future administrations from dismantling it through executive action.

Source: Margo Martin

“For years, the Democrats waged war on crypto,” Donalds, a Florida Republican, said in a statement to Bloomberg. “Now is the time for Congressional Republicans to decisively end this war.”

If the bill is passed, it would ensure that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the US Digital Asset Stockpile could not be eliminated via executive actions by a future administration.

The bill will require at least 60 votes in the Senate and a House majority to pass. With Republicans holding a Senate majority — and amid a generally more crypto-friendly environment —the bill has a chance of passing.

US states with Bitcoin reserve bill propositions. Source: Bitcoinlaws

According to Bitcoinlaws data, at least 23 US states have introduced legislation supporting a Bitcoin reserve, reflecting growing state-level interest in integrating crypto into fiscal policy.

Related: Trump turned crypto from ‘oppressed industry’ to ‘centerpiece’ of US strategy

A “pivotal moment” for US crypto regulations

The introduction of the Bitcoin reserve-related bill marks a pivotal moment for the wider crypto industry, not just BTC.

The legislation “aims to cement the reserve as a permanent fixture, shielding it from reversal by future administrations,” according to Anndy Lian, author and intergovernmental blockchain expert.

The bill signals the US government’s intent to integrate Bitcoin into its financial framework, Lian told Cointelegraph, adding:

“It builds on Trump’s earlier executive action by providing a statutory backbone, potentially clarifying the government’s stance on digital assets. If passed, the bill could reduce uncertainty that has long plagued the crypto space, where agencies like the SEC and CFTC have often clashed over jurisdiction.”

“A codified reserve might encourage a more cohesive regulatory approach, offering businesses and investors a clearer path forward,” he added.

However, identifying the right funding mechanisms and custody solutions for the Bitcoin reserve is a challenging step for governmental entities that may delay the fund’s creation.

Related: European lawmakers silent on US Bitcoin reserve amid digital euro push

The bill may also provide more clarity on the government’s future Bitcoin acquisition strategies. Although the current plan does not involve government Bitcoin purchases, the order does not rule them out.

The order authorizes the US Treasury and Commerce secretaries to develop “budget-neutral strategies” to buy more Bitcoin for the reserve, provided there are no additional costs to taxpayers.

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Hong Kong anticipates the continued growth of its fintech ecosystem, with blockchain, digital assets, distributed ledger technology (DLT) and artificial intelligence playing a central role in shaping its future.

Hong Kong is home to over 1,100 fintech companies. This includes 175 blockchain application or software firms and 111 digital asset and cryptocurrency companies, which marked 250% and 30% increases, respectively, since 2022, according to the Hong Kong Fintech Ecosystem report by InvestHK, a government department overseeing Foreign Direct Investments.

Participants of the Hong Kong Fintech Ecosystem. Source: InvestHK

Exploring deeper fintech revenue streams

The expansive growth of Hong Kong’s Web3 industry is attributed to proactive government policies and an active licensing regime for crypto exchanges or virtual asset trading platforms.

“The revenue for the Hong Kong fintech market is projected to reach US$606 billion by 2032, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 28.5% from 2024 to 2032,” the report stated.

InvestHK, along with other Hong Kong authorities, surveyed 130 fintech companies operating in Hong Kong and identified talent shortage as the top concern in the region, cited by 58.8% of respondents, followed by access to capital at 43.9%. 

Related: Coinbase to add 1,000 more US jobs in 2025, thanks to Trump — Brian Armstrong

Addressing these hurdles will be critical to sustaining Hong Kong’s momentum to become the top financial hub.

Over 73% of the surveyed fintech companies operate in the AI subsector, far exceeding the 41.5% focused on digital assets and cryptocurrency.

China’s “one country, two systems” policy at play

The InvestHK report highlighted Hong Kong’s advantage in adopting China’s “one country, two systems” policy, allowing it to maintain a free-market economy, unrestricted capital flow and strong global trade relations while benefiting from its proximity to mainland China.

As a result, the Hong Kong government was able to roll out several Web3 innovations, including a licensing regime, spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s stablecoin sandbox and tokenized finance and AI integration.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s five-step “Fintech 2025” strategy. Source: HKMA

In 2021, the HKMA unveiled a strategy to establish itself as a financial hub by 2025. 

The strategy included encouraging fintech adoption among banks, increasing Hong Kong’s readiness in issuing central bank digital currencies at both wholesale and retail levels, enhancing the city’s existing data infrastructure and building new ones, increasing the supply of fintech talent and formulating supportive policies for the Hong Kong fintech ecosystem.

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Bitcoin (BTC) breached a rising support trendline against gold (XAU), which has been intact for over 12 years, on March 14.

XAU/BTC ratio weekly performance chart. Source: TradingView/NorthStar

Popular analyst NorthStar says this breakdown could spell the end of Bitcoin’s 12-year bull run if it stays under the gold trendline for even a week or—worse—a month.

Is Bitcoin’s bull market over? Let’s take a closer look at BTC’s correlation with gold.

Gold hits new record high as Bitcoin’s uptrend cools

The BTC/XAU ratio breakdown occurred as spot gold rates hit a new record high above $3,000 per ounce on March 14, after rising by about 12.80% year-to-date.

In contrast, Bitcoin, which is often called “digital gold,” has dropped by 11% so far in 2025.

BTC/USD vs. XAU/USD YTD performance chart. Source: TradingView

The performances reflect the contrasting net flows into US-based spot exchange-traded funds (ETF) tracking Bitcoin and gold.

For instance, as of March 14, the US-based spot gold ETFs had collectively attracted over $6.48 billion YTD, according to data resource World Gold Council. Globally, gold ETFs have seen $23.18 billion in inflows.

Gold ETFs weekly holdings by region. Source: GoldHub.com

On the other hand, US-based spot Bitcoin ETFs saw nearly $1.46 billion in outflows YTD, according to onchain data platform Glassnode.

US Bitcoin ETFs year-to-date net flows. Source: Glassnode

The driving force behind this divergence lies in growing macroeconomic uncertainty and risk-off sentiment, exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies.

Related: Bitcoin panic selling costs new investors $100M in 6 weeks — Research

New tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada have heightened fears of a global economic slowdown, pushing investors toward traditional safe-haven assets like gold.

Meanwhile, central banks, including those in the US, China, and the UK, have accelerated their gold purchases, further boosting gold prices.

Countries that acquired the most gold so far in 2025. Source: GoldHub.com

In contrast, Bitcoin is mirroring the broader risk-on market. As of March 14, its 52-week correlation coefficient with the Nasdaq Composite index was 0.76.

BTC/USD vs. Nasdaq Composite 52-week correlation coefficient chart. Source: TradingView

Has Bitcoin price topped?

The current Bitcoin-to-gold breakdown aligns with historical patterns, particularly the March 2021–March 2022 fractal, which preceded the last bear market.

At that time, the BTC/XAU ratio exhibited a bearish divergence, characterized by rising prices juxtaposed against a declining relative strength index (RSI). This pattern suggested diminishing upward momentum.

BTC/XAU ratio two-week performance chart. Source: TradingView

Consequently, the ratio initially retreated toward the 50-period, two-week exponential moving average (EMA) support level before ultimately plummeting by 60%.

That BTC/XAU breakdown period coincided with Bitcoin’s 68% correction against the US dollar.

BTC/USD two-week performance chart. Source: TradingView

BTC/XAU has once again completed a two-phase EMA retest, echoing the 2021–2022 fractal.

BTC/USD two-week performance chart (zoomed). Source: TradingView

With the RSI showing bearish divergence, momentum appears to be fading, increasing the probability of further declines, especially if the ratio drops decisively below the 50-2W EMA support (~26 XAU).

As a result, it could also indicate Bitcoin’s increased vulnerability to price declines in dollar terms, with the 50-2W EMA below $65,000 acting as the next potential downside target.

BTC/USD 2W price performance chart. Source: TradingView

That is down about 40% from Bitcoin’s record high of around $110,000 established in January.

Still, Nansen analysts consider such a decline as a “correction within a bull market,” raising possibilities of a bullish revival if the 50-2W EMA holds as support. However, a definitive break below the EMA could thrust Bitcoin into bear market territory.

That could drag Bitcoin’s 2025 downside target toward the 200-period two-week EMA (the blue wave) to as low as $34,850 if this Bitcoin-gold fractal repeats.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.