United States President Donald Trump has named five cryptocurrencies to be included in a new strategic reserve.
In a post on Truth Social recently, Trump revealed that his January executive order on digital assets would lead to the creation of a stockpile of XRP, SOL, and ADA, a decision that caught traders by surprise and triggered a surge in the value of these lesser-known tokens.
According to Reuters, Trump later added that bitcoin and ether, the two largest cryptocurrencies, would also be part of the reserve.
Below is the list of the five cryptocurrencies Trump wants the US government to hold in reserve.
1. XRP
Created by the U.S. crypto firm Ripple, XRP is the third-biggest cryptocurrency, with approximately $140 billion worth of tokens in circulation. Ripple has promoted XRP as a cost-effective and efficient way to facilitate international money transfers. However, the token has experienced significant price volatility.
Ripple has also been an influential force in cryptocurrency lobbying, donating $45 million to a pro-crypto lobbying group during the U.S. elections.
The company’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, who was previously engaged in a legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, recently expressed his support for Trump’s initiative, stating that he appreciated the president’s “vision of a govt digital asset reserve representative of the industry.”
2. SOL
SOL, the native token of the Solana blockchain, is another cryptocurrency included in the reserve. Solana is widely used to launch meme coins, including one tied to Trump himself. Currently, SOL has around $73 billion worth of tokens in circulation.
Despite suffering a major setback in 2022 due to its association with former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, the token has regained some momentum in the market. Solana was previously considered a potential rival to Ethereum, especially during the peak of the non-fungible token (NFT) boom in 2021.
3. ADA
ADA, which runs on the Cardano blockchain, is the third cryptocurrency Trump has added to the reserve. Created in 2015 by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, ADA currently has a market circulation of $31.4 billion.
Following Trump’s announcement, ADA’s price skyrocketed by over 70%, marking the largest price jump among the selected tokens. The Cardano blockchain is managed by multiple entities, including a Switzerland-based non-profit, though it remains unclear how the government intends to integrate it into the reserve.
4. Bitcoin
The world’s first and largest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, was also named as part of the strategic reserve. With an estimated $1.7 trillion worth of tokens in circulation, bitcoin accounts for more than half of the $3 trillion total value of digital currencies.
Bitcoin’s price has surged in recent months, partly due to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to allow its inclusion in exchange-traded funds and Trump’s return to the White House, which has boosted expectations for pro-crypto regulations.
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5. Ether
Ether, the final cryptocurrency included in the reserve, powers the Ethereum blockchain, a key player in decentralised finance. Founded in 2013-2014 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum has positioned itself as a rival to Bitcoin.
The platform has also been linked to World Liberty Financial, a crypto company backed by Trump and his sons, which has already sold over $500 million worth of digital tokens. Ethereum’s role in the reserve could further legitimise its use in financial services and decentralised applications.
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