Taiwan Lawmaker Pushes for Bitcoin to Be Added to National Reserves

Taiwanese lawmaker Ko Ju-Chun has called on the government to think about incorporating Bitcoin into its national reserves, alongside gold and foreign currencies.

At a national finance conference on May 9, Ko recommended that a small portion of the country’s reserve assets be allocated to Bitcoin (BTC) as a protective measure against rising global economic uncertainties and regional geopolitical risks.

Ko highlighted Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, limited supply, and its emerging status as a hedge in various countries as pivotal reasons for its integration into Taiwan’s sovereign asset strategy.

He stressed Taiwan’s reliance on exports and the consequent volatility of the New Taiwan dollar as further justification for diversifying the reserve portfolio.

Bitcoin as a crisis reserve

The legislator also mentioned the nation’s vulnerability in potential crisis scenarios, proposing that Bitcoin could serve as an uncorrelated asset to maintain liquidity and mitigate the risk of seizure amid geopolitical tensions.

He previously stated on X that Taiwan might allocate as much as 5% of its reserves—around $50 billion—to Bitcoin, emphasizing this as part of a diversified strategy rather than a complete transformation.

While Ko acknowledged that Bitcoin is not a cure-all for Taiwan’s financial challenges, he underscored the need to expand the nation’s economic resilience toolkit.

This proposal comes as Taiwan moves toward more crypto-friendly regulations. The Financial Supervisory Commission is anticipated to kick off institutional crypto custody trials later this year, contrasting with mainland China’s blanket ban on most crypto-related activities.

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission published a draft of the “Virtual Asset Service Act” on March 25, aimed at regulating crypto businesses and protecting investors. The draft featured licensing requirements for VASPs, standards for stablecoin issuance by banks, and enforcement measures.

A 60-day public consultation period has begun, with the law expected to be presented to the Executive Yuan by June 30.

Ko’s appeal places Taiwan among a select yet expanding group of jurisdictions contemplating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. Although no formal policy has been established, his advocacy indicates a growing interest in digital assets within Taiwan’s financial planning discussions.