“I Should’ve Just Held Bitcoin”: Digital Currency Group CEO Reflects on Missed Crypto Gains

“I Should’ve Just Held Bitcoin”: Digital Currency Group CEO Reflects on Missed Crypto Gains

Barry Silbert Admits Holding BTC Might Have Outperformed His Early Crypto Investments

In a surprisingly candid reflection on his early crypto journey, Barry Silbert, CEO of Digital Currency Group (DCG), revealed that he may have achieved better returns by simply holding onto his Bitcoin instead of diversifying into early-stage crypto startups.

During a recent appearance on Raoul Pal’s Journeyman podcast, Silbert shared insights into his decade-long experience with digital assets, going back to 2011, when he bought Bitcoin (BTC) at just $7–$8 per coin.

“Had I just held the Bitcoin, I actually would have done better than making those investments,” Silbert admitted, referencing some of his earliest bets on companies like Coinbase.

Bitcoin’s Enduring Power: A Lesson in Simplicity

Silbert’s statement touches on a truth that many in the industry are coming to realize: Bitcoin remains the dominant asset in crypto, even amid thousands of emerging coins and platforms. While DCG has backed many of crypto’s most well-known ventures, BTC’s long-term trajectory continues to outperform.

“I was using Bitcoin to make those investments, but in hindsight, the best investment was Bitcoin itself,” he reflected.

The revelation adds weight to the philosophy of Bitcoin maximalists, such as MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor, who believe that Bitcoin will reach a seven-figure price within the next decade.

America’s Strategic Pivot Toward Bitcoin?

In parallel to Silbert’s remarks, momentum is building around Bitcoin as a potential strategic reserve asset for the United States. In a separate podcast appearance on April 16, Zach Shapiro, head of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, suggested that if the US government were to acquire 1 million BTC, it could trigger a “global seismic shock” and drive prices beyond $1 million per coin.

Inside Trump’s Crypto Council, led by Bo Hines, there’s growing discussion about budget-neutral strategies to acquire BTC, including:

• Repricing the U.S. gold reserves (currently undervalued at $43/oz vs. $3,300/oz market value),

• Using trade tariffs to fund crypto acquisition.

Bitcoin as a National Debt Solution?

The idea of using Bitcoin to stabilize or reduce America’s $36 trillion national debt is no longer just theoretical. VanEck, a major asset manager, recently estimated that introducing BTC-backed bonds could help the Treasury claw back up to $14 trillion.

With the 2024–2025 bull cycle in full swing and governments watching closely, the case for Bitcoin as both an investment and a policy tool is growing stronger than ever.