- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent marked Bitcoin’s 17th anniversary, highlighting its continuous operation since 2009.
- Bessent’s message contrasted Bitcoin’s constant uptime with the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown.
- He has previously supported stablecoins and proposed seeding a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
- Responses revealed differing views: Bitcoin purists questioned resilience claims, while market participants urged Treasury to acquire Bitcoin.
- The comment reflects a political jab at Senate Democrats amid halted government operations due to the budget impasse.
On October 31, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commemorated the 17th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper, praising the network’s uninterrupted service since its launch in 2009. Bessent’s message on X highlighted Bitcoin’s resilience with the remark that it “never shuts down,” indirectly criticizing Senate Democrats during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
This shutdown, which began on October 1, has led to approximately 900,000 federal workers being furloughed, close to 2 million working without pay, and the suspension of operations at agencies such as the NIH and CDC. It marks the longest full federal shutdown in U.S. history.
Earlier this year, following President Trump’s approval of the GENIUS Act, Bessent called stablecoins “a revolution in digital finance” and suggested that an internet-native dollar payment system could strengthen the U.S. dollar’s global position. In August, he revealed plans to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve using budget-neutral methods, indicating Treasury’s interest in expanding Bitcoin holdings without additional government funds.
Responses to Bessent’s post divided opinions. Long-time Bitcoin developer Luke Dashjr challenged the assertion of strength, saying Bitcoin is “weaker than ever” due to recent software debates. Researcher Eric Wall replied sarcastically, claiming Bitcoin “died after the core v30 release,” referencing continued skepticism following upgrades. Investor Simon Dixon reframed the message as pointing to Bitcoin’s role in protecting against political currency risks.
Others encouraged action, with trader Fred Krueger urging Treasury to buy Bitcoin for the Strategic Reserve and strategist Gabor Gurbacs advocating for including Bitcoin “on the balance sheet.” These reactions split mainly into technical purists disputing claims of Bitcoin’s resilience and market participants pushing for government acquisition.
October 31 is a notable date in cryptocurrency, marking when the Bitcoin white paper introduced a peer-to-peer digital currency system. Supporters use this anniversary to emphasize Bitcoin’s continuous availability and freedom from centralized control. Bessent’s timing suggests intent to keep digital asset discussions active amid Washington’s political challenges.
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