This week, Belarus’ leader Alexander Lukashenko informed the nation’s Energy Minister Alexei Kushnarenko of his desire to utilize their surplus electricity for cryptocurrency mining, including Bitcoin, to build a reserve.
“Observe this mining. Increasingly, individuals are seeking my opinion. If it’s lucrative for us, let’s proceed,” President Lukashenko remarked. “We possess surplus electricity. Let them create this cryptocurrency and so forth.”
President Lukashenko discussed how the United States is adopting the mining sector under President Donald Trump, along with establishing a strategic Bitcoin and cryptocurrency reserve: “Furthermore, you can see the direction the world is heading. Particularly in the largest economy globally. They announced yesterday that they will maintain [Bitcoin & cryptocurrency] in reserve.”
“Hence, there will be a demand for them. Perhaps we ought to undertake it ourselves,” Lukashenko added. “We might attract some investors, sell them electricity, although I don’t dismiss it. Nonetheless, we need to manage it independently. There are proposals of this nature. I believe you will overcome this bureaucracy and convey what needs to be accomplished.”
Last summer, President Trump welcomed U.S.-based Bitcoin miners to his Mar-a-Lago estate to gain insights into the sector for effective support during his potential upcoming presidency. Since then, President Trump has consistently promoted the Bitcoin mining sector and advocated for Bitcoin in numerous ways, drawing the attention of global leaders, including Lukashenko. Other country’s leaders are becoming aware.
Following President Trump’s suggestion of forming a strategic Bitcoin reserve at The Bitcoin Conference in Nashville last summer, officials worldwide have started to propose legislation for their countries to similarly adopt it and have discussed the possible practicality of such an initiative. Now, it is officially underway, after Trump declared on his Truth Social channel that a U.S. strategic reserve of BTC will be established.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated today that he believes President Trump will advance these initiatives at the White House’s Digital Assets Summit this Friday. As President Trump and the United States continue to endorse Bitcoin, other nations, such as Belarus, are taking notice and aligning as adoption at the nation-state level accelerates.