From breakfast staples to vital resources, countries have a history of stockpiling the most unexpected things to keep markets steady and industries afloat. Canada keeps a strategic maple syrup reserve to prevent crashes due to overproduction, China’s pork reserves helped stabilize supply when swine flu decimated the pig population, helium is strategically stored for industries like aerospace and medicine, and the U.S. even has a cheese stockpile, which has played a role in supporting dairy farmers when the market was over-saturated. So, whether it’s Bitcoin, bacon, or brie, stockpiling reserves of unexpected things isn’t new.
- MarketWatch, March 7, 2025