Key Takeaways
MARA Holdings, the largest Bitcoin miner on Wall Street, has issued an urgent warning of “national security” to the U.S. Government on its need to back Bitcoin.
The company’s calls for a stronger dominance in Bitcoin (BTC) holdings and mining operations coincide with President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for a national Bitcoin reserve.
The Bitcoin mining giant highlighted that the U.S. currently only has 200,000 Bitcoin, just slightly ahead of China, which holds 190,000 BTC.
In gold, however, the U.S. is leagues ahead with 8,133 metric tonnes compared to just 2,264 tonnes owned by China.
However, the company highlights that the digital asset sector could soon become more important than physical reserves.
“Historically, gold has been regarded as the premier store of value, but it faces growing challenges in the digital era,” MARA said.
“As a physical asset, it is inefficient for global transactions, and its supply is difficult to audit accurately.”
The Bitcoin miner claimed that these limitations would diminish gold’s status as the premier store of value.
The U.S. government risks national security if it does not move swiftly to secure dominant positions in Bitcoin mining, MARA warned.
Access to blockspace, the computing power used to validate transactions on the blockchain, is governed by those who control hashrate.
The Bitcoin miner highlighted that the nation which controls most of the global hashrate would be able to secure its own transaction sovereignty and ensure economic security.
“Bitcoin mining pools—groups of miners combining their hashrate to increase their chances of mining blocks—are more likely to earn block rewards and prioritize transactions when their hashrate exceeds that of other pools,” MARA said.
If a nation fails to secure a significant portion of the blockspace and hashrate, it is left vulnerable to external pressures without sufficient dominance.
“As recent geopolitical shifts challenge the dollar’s dominance, securing blockspace and hashrate is increasingly vital for maintaining U.S. economic stability and influence,” MARA said.
MARA provided the U.S. with six strategic recommendations for urgent action to capitalize on Bitcoin’s opportunities.
The miner suggested that the U.S. should hold Bitcoin as a backup asset, much like it holds gold, to ensure it remains able to trade if confidence in the dollar declines.
Alongside this, MARA urged the U.S. to bolster its Bitcoin mining capacity, securing a larger share of global mining power to ensure economic independence and fortify blockchain security.
To reduce reliance on foreign nations and enhance national security, MARA advocated for domestic manufacturing of critical Bitcoin mining hardware, such as ASIC chips.
Building a robust domestic supply chain would provide a competitive edge and mitigate vulnerabilities associated with foreign suppliers, the firm noted.
MARA also called for the establishment of clear and supportive regulations for Bitcoin miners and investors.
It suggested that the U.S. must take the lead in crafting international guidelines for decentralized networks, ensuring Bitcoin remains a neutral, open, and secure financial system.
Establishing global standards would also prevent rival nations from gaining disproportionate influence over the Bitcoin network.
Finally, MARA highlighted the importance of controlling a significant share of global Bitcoin mining operations within the U.S.
Such control would safeguard against foreign interference, ensuring the country’s economic and transactional sovereignty in an increasingly digital financial landscape.
By implementing these recommendations, MARA believes the U.S. can cement its position as a global leader in the emerging Bitcoin economy while securing its economic and geopolitical interests in the digital age.