The Five Countries Planning For A Bitcoin Reserve In 2025

In addition to the US, several other countries, such as the Czech Republic, Russia, and Switzerland, have proposed plans to establish a national strategic Bitcoin reserve in 2025.

Bitcoin’s institutional adoption has surged to new highs in 2024, and it continuous to gain momentum in 2025. Apart from Bitcoin ETFs, which were the first gateway for institutional investors to enter the market, strategic Bitcoin reserves are now gaining attention.

Since its inception, Bitcoin has outperformed the US dollar or any other traditional asset in terms of yearly growth. This resilience and strong demand are compelling national governments to add BTC to their strategic reserves, which generally include gold, bonds, and other traditional assets.

Donald Trump made the promise of a US national Bitcoin reserve during his presidential campaign, and over 15 US states are currently in the process of proposing or approving a bill.

Here’s a breakdown of the countries that are officially in the process of exploring a strategic Bitcoin reserve.

What is a strategic Bitcoin reserve?

A strategic Bitcoin Reserve is a stockpile of Bitcoin that a government or central bank holds as a reserve asset. It works much like the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, where a critical resource is stored to help stabilize the economy during emergencies or supply disruptions. Authorities would set aside Bitcoin to hedge against inflation, economic instability, and potential currency devaluation.

Proponents say that Bitcoin’s fixed supply, global accessibility, and long‑term appreciation potential make it a good tool for diversifying national reserves. Some proposals even suggest using seized Bitcoin or funds from Federal Reserve profits to build a reserve over several years gradually. Critics, however, stress that Bitcoin’s high volatility, lack of intrinsic value, and security challenges could undermine its reliability as a stable reserve asset.

Countries that are planning for a strategic Bitcoin reserve

1. United States

As of 10 February 2025, progress on the US Bitcoin reserve remains mostly in the proposal and debate stage. Here’s a quick rundown of where things stand:

President Trump has talked about creating a national Bitcoin reserve. His idea — first raised during the 2024 campaign — is that the government should hold a sizable amount of Bitcoin. Senator Cynthia Lummis’ Bitcoin Act of 2024 proposes that the Treasury and the Federal Reserve buy roughly 200,000 Bitcoin each year over five years to hit a target of one million units. However, no official program has been launched yet.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has reiterated that current laws don’t allow the Fed to hold Bitcoin. Changing that would require Congressional action, which means any major shift will take time and face legal hurdles.

However, the plans for a US Bitcoin reserve will likely happen first on the state level. Several US states such as Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio are exploring proposals to allocate a portion of their own reserves into Bitcoin. Several of these states have proposed an official bill, which will become policy if passed.

2. Czech Republic

Governor Aleš Michl from the Czech National Bank wants to test whether Bitcoin can boost reserve diversification. He plans to study whether up to 5% of the bank’s €140billion ($144bn) reserves can go into Bitcoin, which means a potential exposure of about €7bn. The bank’s board will review a detailed analysis before any moves happen. Michl knows Bitcoin is very volatile and admits its value can swing wildly. The idea has raised eyebrows among some officials.

The finance minister warned that bitcoin isn’t stable enough for reserves, and ECB President Christine Lagarde said bitcoin does not belong in central bank reserves. Some reports even suggest that if the idea moves forward, the final exposure might be much smaller — possibly even under 1% of the reserves.

This proposal comes as central banks look to modernize their asset strategies and explore digital assets.

3. Switzerland

Swiss crypto advocates launched a proposal that would amend Article 99 of the Swiss Constitution. This change would require the Swiss National Bank to hold a portion of its reserves in gold and Bitcoin. Ten individuals — including figures like Giw Zanganeh and Yves Bennaïm — filed the initiative on 5 December 2024, and it was officially registered in the Federal Gazette on 31 December 2024.

The proposal now needs to collect 100,000 valid signatures (roughly 1.12% of Switzerland’s 8.92 million residents) within the next 18 months to trigger a public referendum. As of February 2025, campaigners have actively started collecting signatures, and early indications point to steady progress, though the target has not yet been reached.

Meanwhile, the SNB remains cautious about cryptocurrencies. Its chairman has expressed concerns over Bitcoin’s volatility and energy use, but the initiative reflects a growing push among Swiss crypto proponents for greater financial sovereignty.

4. Russia

A Russian State Duma deputy, Anton Tkachev, from the New People party, has put forward a proposal to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve. He asked Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to study whether Russia can hold Bitcoin like it holds traditional foreign currency reserves. The idea is to use Bitcoin as a hedge against sanctions, inflation, and the volatility of conventional currencies.

Tkachev argues that when access to international payment systems is limited by sanctions, cryptocurrencies may become one of the few options for global trade. His proposal calls for a feasibility assessment and, if the study is positive, a government plan to set up the reserve. Some Russian officials remain cautious about Bitcoin’s price swings, even though President Putin has highlighted its resistance to prohibition.

5. Japan

A Japanese lawmaker named Satoshi Hamada has repeatedly pushed for Japan to create a national Bitcoin reserve. He argues that adding Bitcoin to Japan’s foreign exchange reserves could help hedge against economic uncertainty and diversify the country’s assets. Hamada’s proposal suggests allocating a small portion of Japan’s reserves into Bitcoin, similar to discussions in the US and other countries.

However, Japan’s government has so far rejected the idea. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said that Japan lacks enough information about how other nations plan to use Bitcoin as a reserve. Japanese officials also point out that Bitcoin’s high volatility and its legal status — which does not classify it as foreign exchange — make it unsuitable for stabilizing reserves.

Instead, the government prefers to stick with assets like government bonds and foreign currency deposits, and some are even exploring the use of stablecoins as a less volatile alternative.

This cautious approach shows that while there is some political support for a Bitcoin reserve in Japan, the government is not ready to change its current strategy due to legal and stability concerns.

How can a national Bitcoin reserve impact the BTC market?

A country holding Bitcoin in its reserves can shake up the market in several ways. It creates strong buying demand that may drive prices higher because governments buy in large volumes. It also sends a message of legitimacy, which can boost confidence among institutional and retail investors.

Long-term holding by a nation can help stabilize the market by reducing short-term selling pressure. On the flip side, if the country ever decides to sell its Bitcoin quickly, that could flood the market and push prices down. Overall, government involvement tends to shape global sentiment and attract more investment into Bitcoin.

1. 01.

   Which countries have a Bitcoin reserve in 2025?

   

   In 2025, El Salvador stands out as a country with an established Bitcoin reserve. Other nations — like Russia and the Czech Republic — have explored or held Bitcoin through law enforcement seizures and proposals, but El Salvador is the only example of a country actively incorporating Bitcoin into its national reserves.

2. 02.

   What is Trump’s Digital Asset Stockpile?

   

   Trump’s Digital Asset Stockpile is a proposal to create a strategic US reserve of cryptocurrencies. The idea is to build a government-held stockpile from seized cryptocurrencies (such as those from criminal cases) and possibly new purchases, with the aim of hedging against economic instability, reducing national debt, and strengthening the dollar.