Senator Cynthia Lummis recently delivered one of the clearest legislative roadmaps for Bitcoin policy to come out of Washington, addressing everything from Treasury purchases to a national de
Senator Cynthia Lummis recently delivered one of the clearest legislative roadmaps for Bitcoin policy to come out of Washington, addressing everything from Treasury purchases to a national debt strategy built on Bitcoin's scarcity.
During an interview with Roxom TV News host Hank Hudson, the Wyoming senator said she expects the U.S. Treasury to start acquiring Bitcoin before the end of 2026.
She pointed to what she described as growing support for the idea within President Donald Trump administration, including backing from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and senior White House officials.
Lummis was direct about the timeline facing the Clarity Act, the digital asset regulatory framework currently on the Senate calendar. Asked whether it would pass before July 4th, she said she would not be surprised if it did not.
Negotiations remain active on several fronts, she said, including ethics language governing meme coin conduct by elected officials, enforcement provisions, and DeFi-related rules.
Senate Democrats are pushing to restrict executive and legislative branch officials from issuing or endorsing meme coins, while regulators continue working through how much liability protection developers should receive.
Related: Economist who predicted 2008 crash reveals next Bitcoin target
Lummis emphasized that protections for coders remain a priority.
"Code is protected free speech under the U.S. Constitution," she said, arguing that developers should not face liability for products they have no way of knowing will be misused.
She added that if the bill fails to clear the Senate before the August recess, the next realistic legislative window may not arrive until 2030.
Lummis laid out the mechanics behind her proposed Bitcoin strategic reserve, arguing that holding one-fifth of the world's Bitcoin supply for 20 years could reduce the national debt by one-third to one-half, depending on how the asset appreciates over that period.
“What I proposed is a Bitcoin strategic reserve, because if we bought or acquired and then held on to Bitcoin for a period of years, it would grow over time due to its designed scarcity. And then we could use that to backfill some of the national debt that we are building up,” She said.
Adding, “In fact, if we would hold one fifth of the world's Bitcoin for 20 years, we could cut our national debt by either one third or one half, depending on how Bitcoin grows. So I see it as an important backstop to have.”
She pointed to China, African nations, and countries across Southeast Asia and Europe as governments she is watching closely for similar reserve strategies, framing global Bitcoin accumulation as a response to currency diversification needs.
Pressed on price, Lummis said she remains "laser eyes" on Bitcoin reaching $500,000 before the end of the decade, citing its fixed scarcity as distinct from other digital assets.
“I think that for the decade to come that we are going to see it perform at that kind of a level,” Senator said.
She also predicted Bitcoin would become part of high school financial literacy curricula within ten years.
On her own Bitcoin Act, which would formalize a federal reserve, she acknowledged a companion House bill from Representative Nick Begich may have a better chance of passing first.
“I think the Begich bill actually has a better chance of passing than the Lummis bill does in the Senate. And Nick and I are working together in hopes that he'll have some success on the House side,” she added.
Related: Analyst sends blunt message on Elon Musk's Bitcoin ties
