PayPal's Ex-President David Marcus Wants US To Rotate 'Very Tiny Slice' Of Gold Reserves Into Bitcoin: 'But Do It Very Slowly'

February 13, 2026 - 05:09

David Marcus, the co-founder and CEO of Lightspark and former president of PayPal, has publicly suggested a novel strategy for the United States' financial reserves. He proposes that the U.S. government should consider converting a minuscule portion of its substantial gold holdings into Bitcoin.

Marcus articulated his position by stating that Bitcoin possesses inherent qualities which make it a superior store of value compared to traditional gold in the modern digital era. He emphasized the cryptocurrency's verifiable scarcity and its ease of transfer and audit as key advantages.

Crucially, Marcus is not advocating for a sudden or large-scale shift. His recommendation is for an extremely cautious and measured approach. The core of his proposal involves rotating only a "very tiny slice" of the national gold reserves into Bitcoin, and to execute this transition "very slowly" over time. This method would allow the government to gain strategic exposure to the emerging asset class while mitigating potential volatility risks.

This suggestion highlights a growing discourse among some financial innovators about the potential role of digital assets like Bitcoin within sovereign wealth and reserve portfolios. Proponents argue it represents a forward-looking hedge, while critics caution about the asset's price fluctuations and regulatory uncertainties. Marcus's comments add a significant voice to this debate, framing Bitcoin as a potential component of long-term national financial strategy.