Just In: Philippines Lawmakers Propose Bill to Create National Bitcoin Reserve

Philippine lawmakers have proposed a bill to establish the country’s strategic Bitcoin reserve. This marks the continuation of the growing trend of crypto adoption across countries.

Philippines Moves to Establish National Bitcoin Reserve

House ICT Committee chairperson Migz Villafuerte has introduced a bill urging the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve..

Under the proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act (House Bill 421), the BSP would acquire 2,000 BTC annually for five years. They would also hold the assets in trust for two decades. Villafuerte argued that this move would diversify the Philippines’ financial assets. He also emphasized that it would strengthen economic security and position the nation to benefit from the cryptocurrency economy.

“It is vital for the Philippines to stockpile strategic assets such as BTC to serve important national interests such as providing financial stability,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte pointed to Bitcoin’s performance as justification for the proposal. Since its creation in 2009, the coin has boasted a compound annual growth rate of about 40% in the past five years. 

The lawmaker also noted growing international momentum. In addition to gold, Switzerland is thinking of including Bitcoin in its national reserves. Legislator Wu Jiezhuang of Hong Kong has openly advocated for the inclusion of Bitcoin in financial reserves, and Poland is considering a similar plan. 

Meanwhile, reports say that China has seized a lot of Bitcoin, while Malaysia is working on rules to strengthen its financial system.

Global Momentum for National Bitcoin Reserves

The proposed law in the Philippines reflects debates in the US and other nations. After a 180-day review under President Donald Trump, the White House published its first crypto policy report on July 30, 2025.

The debate is about whether Washington should create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve using the nearly 200,000 Bitcoin that federal agencies have seized. Analysts believe that this action could turn Bitcoin into an important national asset and may lead to a rise in market conditions.

Meanwhile, China has not followed the trends, with speculation still growing on a potential Bitcoin reserve. Back in April, municipal authorities in China reportedly sold around 15,000 BTC, valued at $1.2 billion, to address funding shortfalls. 

Notably, Japan’s Metaplanet has adopted a strategy more akin to the Philippines’ proposal. The company now holds a total of 18,888 BTC after recently adding 775 BTC. This helps it remain one of the largest institutional BTC holders in the world.

This bill shows how digital assets are changing economic policies around the globe. If approved, the Philippines could be one of the first countries in Asia to include BTC in its national reserves.