Following latest news reports, Solana co-founder and CEO Anatoly Yakovenko has publicly rejected the idea of a government controlled crypto reserve. His comments, made on March 6 on X (formerly Twitter), come in response to President Donald Trump’s proposal for a national crypto strategic reserve that would include major digital assets like Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana and Cardano. Yakovenko clearly stated that true decentralization is not compatible with government reserves. Instead he says that the essence of blockchain is decentralization and any government trying to manage a reserve would undermine that.
No Centralized Control: Yakovenko’s 3 Tier Preference for Crypto Reserves
No Reserve at All: The Top Choice
Anatoly Yakovenko’s top choice is simple: no crypto reserve at all. In his X post he said that involving a central government in managing digital assets would lead to a failure of decentralization; a core principle of blockchain. For Yakovenko, decentralization is not just a technical feature, it’s the ethos of cryptocurrencies, so no one entity can control the system.
State Led Reserves: The Second Choice
If a reserve is absolutely necessary, the Solana co-founder suggests it should be state led not federal. He believes states are better positioned to understand local economic conditions and can create a more nuanced approach. By letting states manage their own reserves the risk of centralized control by a federal authority can be mitigated and some decentralization preserved.
Objective, Transparent Criteria: The Last Resort
Finally Yakovenko concedes if a national reserve must exist, its inclusion criteria should be based on objective, transparent and logical standards. He doesn’t specify what those standards are but says they must be clear. Even if those standards only qualify Bitcoin today, the key is that the process is transparent and fair.
The Context: Trump’s Crypto Reserve Proposal Initiative
March 2, 2025; President Donald Trump announced a national crypto strategic reserve. The proposal will include major digital assets, Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana and Cardano; to strengthen the US position in the global digital economy. The idea is to create a government backed reserve like traditional assets like gold to provide economic security and geopolitical influence.
The announcement moved the markets with XRP going up by 34%, Solana (SOL) up 27%, Cardano (ADA) up 80%, Bitcoin (BTC) up 10% to $94,343, Ether (ETH) up 19%.
These price movements show the market’s excitement and over excitement when big policy news hits the digital asset space. But the real debate is whether this government intervention aligns with the principles of decentralization that many in the crypto community hold dear.
Solana Perspective: Decentralization First
No Government Overreach
For the Solana co-founder, the idea of a government-controlled reserve is antithetical to blockchain. In his view, giving a state control of a crypto reserve would mean centralization and undermine digital assets’ trustless decentralized nature. Yakovenko sums it up:
“What’s a Solana representative? At this point it’s honestly like saying a Bitcoin representative. No one asked me, and I didn’t pitch it.”
This means not only that Solana is not lobbying for inclusion in the reserve but also that the project’s ethos is all about true decentralization.
State Led Alternatives
Yakovenko proposes if a reserve is unavoidable, a state level management would be better. This would allow local governments to tailor policies to their own economic context and avoid the problems of centralized federal control. He didn’t provide criteria for what such a reserve should look like but emphasized transparency and logical justification in the selection process.
Industry Reaction: A Divided Crypto Community
The reserve proposal has sparked a lot of debate in the crypto community. Industry leaders are split. For example, Lee Bratcher, President of the Texas Blockchain Council, says the reserve should be only Bitcoin, because of its store of value properties. Steven Lubka, head of Bitcoin investments at Swan Bitcoin says the reserve should be global, neutral assets that benefit the US and notes:
“Bitcoin is the only digital asset which fits this description.”
These different views show the ongoing debate about the composition of a government-backed digital asset reserve and the challenges of balancing regulation with decentralization.
Those against a centralized crypto reserve worry government control will mean regulatory overreach and stifle innovation. Those for a reserve argue it will bring stability and legitimacy to the digital asset market. The different views show the need for a balanced transparent approach; an approach the Solana co-founder and many in the Solana community think can be achieved without any government controlled reserve.
What’s Next for Federal and State Actors
The U.S. crypto landscape is moving fast. Trump’s proposal for a Crypto Strategic Reserve has sparked the market, while state initiatives like New Hampshire’s HB 302 are forging their own paths. Both want to integrate digital assets into public financial systems, but with different philosophies.
For the future, the industry wants clarity. A balanced approach that allows innovation and protects investors is needed. Any reserve if adopted, should be built on transparent, measurable criteria that don’t compromise the decentralization of blockchain.
Conclusion
While the proposal has stirred the market, the underlying argument is about regulatory control vs decentralization. By rejecting government control, Yakovenko believes decentralization is key to true blockchain innovation.
As the U.S. figures out its crypto future, a balanced approach with transparency, objective criteria and decentralized management will be crucial. The outcome of these debates will impact market dynamics and digital asset adoption in the U.S. for years to come.
For now the conversation continues and industry leaders are divided on the way forward. But one thing is clear: any decision will have big implications for how digital assets are integrated into public financial systems and the broader economy.
Stay updated with Deythere as we’re available around the clock, providing you with updated information about the state of the crypto world.
FAQs
1. What does Anatoly Yakovenko think about crypto reserves?
No government-led crypto reserve, decentralization should remain intact. If needed, state-led reserves or objective inclusion criteria.
2. Why did Trump propose a national crypto reserve?
Trump’s administration sees the strategic reserve as a way to own the digital asset economy, including big cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, and Cardano.
3. How did the market react to Trump’s announcement?
The crypto market went up big time, XRP, SOL, ADA, BTC and ETH all rallied big time after the news.
4. Did Solana lobby for its inclusion in the reserve?
No, the Solana co-founder said no lobbying from Solana, denied claims that the project was asking for government recognition.
5. What are the concerns about a government controlled crypto reserve?
Critics say a national crypto reserve will undermine decentralization, overreach and centralize control of digital assets.
Glossary
Decentralization: Moving power away from the center
Crypto Reserve: A pile of crypto held by an entity, in this case, a government.
Bitcoin Maximalist: Someone who thinks Bitcoin is the only crypto.
Blockchain: A decentralized ledger tech.
Liquidity: Can buy or sell without moving the market.
References
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