Czech National Bank Wants To Invest 5% Of Reserves In Bitcoin
Czech National Bank (CNB) Governor Aleš Michl has proposed allocating 5% of the bank’s 140 billion euro reserves to Bitcoin.
Governor Michl will present a proposal to the board on Thursday to invest in Bitcoin as a strategy to diversify the CNB’s reserves, according to a report by the Financial Times .
Despite Bitcoin’s “extreme volatility and limited track record,” Michl said investors’ growing interest in Bitcoin fueled his decision to diversify CNB’s reserves with the king of cryptos. He pointed out that last year, BlackRock and other firms launched Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds), sparking increased attention in the cryptocurrency.
He also highlighted US President Donald Trump’s efforts on deregulation, including his recent executive order to establish a digital asset stockpile.
“Those [Trump] guys can now kind of create some bubble for bitcoin, but I think the trend would be an increase without those guys as well, because it’s an alternative [investment] for more people,” Michl said in an interview with the FT.
Michl Calls Himself A “Pioneer” In Bitcoin Investment
Central banks have typically kept their reserves in safe assets like US Treasuries and other top-rated bonds. While some invest in equities, very few have publicly explored the crypto space.
Some central bankers remain skeptical about digital assets. The governor of Germany’s Bundesbank, Joachim Nagel, warned about the risks of investing in crypto. He compared Bitcoin to “digital tulips,” referencing a 17th-century speculative bubble and the subsequent collapse in the price of bulbs.
But Michl said that his approach is different from his counterparts:
“If you compare my position with other bankers, I’m the one entering the jungle, the pioneer,” he said, adding that as someone who used to run an investment fund, he’s “a typical investment banker who values profitability.”
He also added that more central banks could follow his strategy within the next five years, as several funds and commercial banks have recently included crypto in their portfolios. Some pension funds have already started investing in cryptocurrency, too.
He is also aware of the potential risks of investing in Bitcoin.
“Yes, I’m ready for a possible Bitcoin collapse,” he said. “My goal is to diversify the portfolio, so if Bitcoin is a good option for that, then let’s include it.”
According to the CNB, if the Czech bank had held 5% of its foreign reserves in Bitcoin over the past decade, its annual returns would have increased by 3.5 percentage points. But the volatility of its portfolio would have also doubled.
Related Articles
- I s It Too Late To Buy XYO? XYO Network Price Soars 34%
- Wall Street Pepe Presale Surges Past $62.5M
- DeepSeek Worries Trigger Meme Coin Selloff
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
The Daily: ECB President Lagarde rejects bitcoin for Eurozone reserves while the Czech central bank considers it and more
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said bitcoin is not an option as a reserve asset for the Eurozone’s central bank reserves, citing liquidity, security and regulatory concerns.Meanwhile, the Czech National Bank approved a proposal from Governor Aleš Michl to assess diversifying some of its country’s reserves into bitcoin.
'Inevitable collapse': Trump’s crypto push sparks concern at Paul Singer's Elliott Management: FT
The hedge fund said in a new investor letter that the “inevitable collapse” of the crypto bubble “could wreak havoc,” according to the Financial Times.Elliott’s Paul Singer has never been a fan of crypto, telling WSJ in 2023 that cryptocurrencies are “completely lacking in any value.”
Kiyosaki Dumps Gold and Silver, Projects Bitcoin at $250K by 2025
Bulls Eye Reversal as Solana Tests Support After 25% Drop