Now, in 2025, deep institutional adoption of Bitcoin is in full swing. High-profile moves by the private and public sectors are fueling this expansion. Former President Donald Trump has led the charge on crypto-friendly PR. His aim is to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the world.” GameStop recently made headlines by acquiring 4,710 bitcoins. This action underscores a significant trend among public companies that are beginning to adopt Bitcoin as a treasury asset. This would be an important change and first step toward institutions being able to better understand, accept, and integrate these digital developments into their financial strategies.

Since taking office, President Trump’s administration has moved aggressively to portray digital assets like bitcoin as valid, formal, regulated parts of the U.S. financial system. The administration’s approach represents the most sweeping precedent shift in the federal government’s view of executive agencies’ treatment of digital assets.

Trump's Executive Actions

Since being inaugurated for a second term in 2025, President Trump has launched a new wave of executive actions. These actions are all limited to digital assets. Together, these steps have sent a strong signal to the market that the executive branch is taking a different view of digital assets.

On January 23, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14178, titled "Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology." Specifically, this order rescinds the 2021 administration’s guidance on a prospective central bank digital currency. It creates a Digital Asset Working Group to formulate a federal regulatory framework for digital assets.

The Trump administration locked in those crypto-friendly policies when it appointed Paul Atkins—former SEC Chair under President GW Bush—to return as Chair of the SEC. Atkins is a major figure in the crypto advocacy space. Further, the Justice Department’s crypto enforcement unit was dissolved, a further indication of policy priorities shifting away from regulatory overreach.

On March 6, President Trump signed Executive Order 14233. This order created the position of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. The new fund would be paid for with cryptocurrencies that have been seized from criminal enterprises in forfeiture proceedings.

GameStop's Bitcoin Investment

Then, in May 2025, GameStop did something pretty unprecedented. The company announced that it had acquired 4,710 bitcoin and then subsequently confirmed the purchase in a press release on May 28. This announcement is another example of the accelerating trend of public companies seeking to explore Bitcoin as a treasury asset.

GameStop has apparently chosen to purchase Bitcoin and announce this move publicly. This move highlights the deepening corporate appetite for alternative stores of value. The company's investment signals a potential shift in how corporations manage their assets and view digital currencies.

Ryan Cohen, CEO of GameStop, addressed the company's decision in a recorded interview at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas. He also pointed out that GameStop’s long-term strategic direction is yet to be determined. The company will continue to select the course of action that is in its long-term best interest.

"hedges against global currency devaluation and systemic financial risk" - CEO Ryan Cohen

Implications for Institutional Crypto Adoption

Recent high-profile moves by the likes of GameStop have changed the game. Fortunately, President Trump’s forward-leaning policies have opened up an environment amenable to exploring Bitcoin as a financial strategy. These initiatives are paving the way for another recent wave of institutional crypto adoption.

It’s all meeting at the intersection of public and private sector initiatives. This partnership is setting the stage for greater institutional involvement in the crypto space. This clarity from regulators is helping set the stage for Bitcoin to prove itself as a legitimate asset class. Consequently, institutions are currently exploring and looking to adopt digital assets into their portfolios.

Yet both the Trump administration and GameStop have now created a precedent for these institutions. Combined, their actions could increase liquidity, foster greater stability and promote innovation in our burgeoning crypto space.