Czech Central Bank Becomes First Central Bank to Buy Bitcoin

What to know:

• The Czech National Bank (CNB) has created a $1 million test portfolio of cryptocurrencies, including BTC, a USD stablecoin, and a tokenized deposit.
• The pilot aims to test processes associated with purchasing, holding, and managing blockchain-based assets, with bank plans to share its experience over the next 2-3 years.

The Czech National Bank (CNB) on Thursday announced the creation of a $1 million test portfolio that includes bitcoin, a USD stablecoin, and a tokenized deposit.

Approved by the bank board on Oct. 30, the pilot is designed to give the central bank hands-on experience with blockchain-based assets, which it says could reshape how payments and financial systems operate in the future.

The total amount invested will not be actively increased, said the bank, and the acquisition was made outside of the bank's existing international reserves.

CNB Governor Aleš Michl in January of this year first put forth the idea of an investment in bitcoin, a move that was met with derision by ECB President Christine Lagarde. While part of the European Union and the ECB, the Czech Republic has not adopted the euro, giving its central bank a modicum of independence from the rest of the continent.

“I came up with the idea of creating a test portfolio in January 2025," said Michl in this morning's announcement. "The aim was to test decentralised bitcoin from the central bank’s perspective and to evaluate its potential role in diversifying our reserves."