Philippines Moves to Add Bitcoin to National Reserves

Lawmakers in the Philippines have introduced a new bill that would mandate the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to accumulate 2,000 Bitcoin annually over five years, holding the assets in trust for at least 20 years. Known as the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act (House Bill 421), the proposal represents a bold move toward state-level adoption of digital assets.

The bill’s sponsor, committee chair Migz Villafuerte, emphasized that building a Bitcoin reserve would enhance financial stability, diversify national holdings, and position the Philippines to benefit from the growing crypto economy. He cited Bitcoin’s compound annual growth rate of roughly 40% over the past five years as a strong reason to treat it as a strategic asset.

This move aligns with rising global interest in Bitcoin accumulation. Switzerland is reportedly considering BTC alongside gold in its reserves, while Hong Kong and Poland have seen leaders advocating for similar policies. In the U.S., the White House recently released a national crypto policy report, and analysts believe it may use the nearly 200,000 seized BTC to form a sovereign reserve. Japan’s Metaplanet has already acquired 18,888 BTC as part of its corporate strategy.

China, on the other hand, has taken the opposite stance, with municipalities allegedly selling 15,000 BTC to address budget gaps.

If passed, this bill would make the Philippines one of the first Asian nations to formally adopt Bitcoin into national reserves, highlighting the expanding role of digital assets in global financial frameworks.