Patrick Witt: US Government Needs Explicit Congressional Authorization to Legally Purchase Bitcoin On November 10, 2026, Patrick Witt (@patrickjwitt), former executive director of the White House Digital Assets Advisory Council, stated in an interview with What Bitcoin Did (@_DannyKnowles) that Trump is interested in increasing his Bitcoin holdings, and the government has discussed specific plans multiple times. However, whether direct purchases on the open market are permissible remains legally questionable, and avoiding negative market reactions is also a challenge. Witt stated that the current administration hopes to enshrine a strategic Bitcoin reserve in law and obtain explicit congressional authorization. Since appropriation power rests with Congress, if the government intends to use existing funds, it must prove that purchasing Bitcoin aligns with the original intended purpose. He also indicated that hasty action could prompt Congress to add a ban to the National Defense Authorization Act, effectively blocking the authorization path. Source: What Bitcoin Did