Pradeep Bhandari, BJP National figure, recently wrote an insightful article discussing the United States’ Bitcoin reserve, asserting that India has a unique opportunity to lead in this emerging economic frontier.
Bhandari compared the U.S., a highly advanced economy, with Bhutan—both of which have strategically embraced Bitcoin. He highlighted how even a small nation like Bhutan has integrated Bitcoin into its public funding model, while India is yet to take a clear stand.
The U.S. Bitcoin Reserve: A Strategic Shift
According to Bhandari, the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was officially launched in January 2025 under former President Donald Trump. This reserve was established to hold seized Bitcoins and later evolved into a state-backed digital asset strategy. Notably, three U.S. states have already passed legislation to allocate public funds toward building Bitcoin reserves, treating it as a legitimate asset class.
“Read, Texas Officially Launches Publicly Funded Bitcoin Reserve
This is not an isolated move. As per public reports, the reserve already holds over 200,000 BTC, and its valuation crossed $20 billion by mid-2025. The approach has placed Bitcoin as more than just an investment—it is now seen as a national economic buffer and hedge against fiat currency inflation.
Bhutan’s Quiet Bitcoin Revolution
Bhandari also praised Bhutan’s unique perspective. Since 2021, Bhutan has been mining Bitcoin using renewable hydropower, effectively turning natural resources into digital reserves. As of May 2025, Bhutan holds over $1 billion in Bitcoin, using it to fund public services and reduce economic dependency on tourism.
While Bhutan may be small, its bold steps provide a working model for digital reserves in the region. With India’s vast renewable energy infrastructure, a similar approach could be explored though it would require policy clarity and scalable solutions.
Why India Needs to Pay Attention
Though Bhandari didn’t make policy recommendations, his article clearly aims to spark a wider conversation. Crypto leaders like CoinDCX CEO Sumit Gupta have publicly supported Bhandari’s views, underlining the urgency for India to act. Gupta pointed out that India missed the bus on Web 1.0 and 2.0, urging policymakers not to repeat the same with Web3 and Bitcoin.
Bhandari’s appeal as a strategic reserve lies in its scarcity (only 21 million can ever exist), transparency through blockchain, and global liquidity. It’s being viewed more like digital gold a hedge against economic uncertainty and central bank overreach.
With the SEC in the U.S. now classifying Bitcoin as a commodity, and the IMF acknowledging it as a capital asset, the global legitimacy of Bitcoin is growing. These moves strengthen the case for Bitcoin becoming part of national reserve strategies—a conversation India can no longer ignore.
A Turning Point for India
Bhandari’s article is not just about international developments. It’s a call for India to rethink its stance. The combination of Bhutan’s clean Bitcoin mining and the U.S.’s structured reserve model paints a clear picture: Bitcoin is evolving into a geopolitical and economic tool.
India has the intellectual capital, energy resources, and technical infrastructure to lead. But without a bold policy vision, we may fall behind. As voices like Bhandari and Gupta grow louder, the path forward becomes clearer: India must act with foresight and courage.
