XRP Could Power U.S. Crypto Bonds, Says Ex-CFTC Chair

XRP may soon play a key role in U.S. government-backed financial instruments, according to former CFTC Chair Chris Giancarlo. In a recent conversation with Bradley Kimes at the XRP Las Vegas conference, Giancarlo asserted that issuing federal bonds supported by cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and XRP isn’t just hypothetical—it’s something entirely feasible.

During the interview, Kimes brought up the growing buzz in Washington around how the U.S. government might acquire, hold, or leverage digital assets. One emerging proposal is particularly intriguing: the issuance of crypto-backed bonds. In response, Giancarlo stated that this idea is “more than a possibility,” hinting at a future where governments—federal, state, and even local—could deploy this strategy.

Giancarlo, often referred to as “Crypto Dad” for his vocal backing of blockchain technology, explained that the current U.S. administration views digital assets as long-term value contributors. He noted that President Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with prior administrations’ decisions to rapidly liquidate seized cryptocurrencies. Instead, the current strategy leans toward holding these assets to enhance the nation’s financial standing.

“If the government had kept those Bitcoin assets from past seizures,” Giancarlo stated, “they could’ve significantly chipped away at the national debt.” This new approach only requires minor procedural shifts, not sweeping legislative reforms. Federal agencies, under current law, already possess the authority to retain confiscated crypto, a practice this administration has begun to implement.

Expanding on this new asset management philosophy, Giancarlo suggested that the White House aims to emulate its Strategic Petroleum Reserve strategy—this time using cryptocurrencies. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve isn’t solely for crisis response; it’s also a policy tool to stabilize oil prices when organizations like OPEC threaten to disrupt market equilibrium. According to Giancarlo, a similar mechanism could be crafted for crypto reserves to counteract global monetary shifts, particularly those coming from the BRICS alliance.

He emphasized that just as China regularly accumulates stocks of critical metals and grain, the U.S. should adopt a similar strategy with digital commodities, including XRP. By holding these assets, the government could maintain economic influence and hedging capabilities in a rapidly evolving digital marketplace.

Supporting Giancarlo’s perspective is Bo Hines, Trump’s Director for Digital Assets, who is actively exploring strategies to expand the government’s crypto holdings. This initiative gained traction earlier in 2025 when President Trump signed an executive order creating the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. With over 200,000 BTC—currently valued at approximately $22 billion—this fund operates as a long-term “digital gold” store, sourced mainly from legal seizures.

Simultaneously, the administration formed the Digital Asset Stockpile. This secondary reserve incorporates multiple blockchain-based currencies, including XRP, Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. Unlike the Bitcoin-focused reserve, this fund offers more operational flexibility, permitting selective sales as required by Treasury strategy. As per a separate executive announcement, XRP is officially part of this newly created governmental asset pool.

Related: Expert Advice: Sell XRP If You’re Confused

In wrapping up the discussion, Kimes likened this digital reserve system to energy markets, a comparison Giancarlo embraced. He remarked that for centuries, countries have used stockpiles to guide national and global market dynamics. As digital assets such as XRP gain traction, he believes the U.S. must adopt this tried-and-true approach in a modern framework, securing its place atop the global financial hierarchy.