Taiwan Mulls Adding Bitcoin to National Strategic Reserves

Highlights:

• Taiwan plans to pilot Bitcoin holdings using seized cryptocurrency as a strategic reserve asset.
• Lawmaker Ju-Chun Ko warns that heavy reliance on the US dollar risks economic stability.
• Global trends and regulatory delays shape Taiwan’s approach to building a digital asset strategy.

Taiwan’s government is advancing plans to explore Bitcoin as part of its national reserve strategy. The Executive Yuan, which is Taiwan’s main government administration, and the Central Bank have agreed to examine pilot holdings using seized Bitcoin that is currently awaiting auction. The proposal came as BTC had dropped from its all-time highs but remained above $102,000. Legislator Dr. Ju-Chun Ko introduced the treasury initiative, suggesting a pilot study and a six-month timeframe to draft crypto-friendly legislation.

JUST IN: Taiwan Congress Legislator announces its central bank has committed to studying "#Bitcoin as strategic reserve" 🇹🇼

They also committed to piloting a BTC treasury 🚀 pic.twitter.com/KvbbkBY3Y4

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) November 12, 2025

Lawmaker Raises Concerns About Taiwan’s Heavy Reliance on the US Dollar

In an event held at the Legislative Yuan yesterday, Ju-Chun Ko raised his views surrounding Taiwan’s overdependence upon the US dollar as well as his worries over the increasing utilization of electronic money. As per data from the Republic of China’s central bank, Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves as of September amounted to $602.94 billion.

Over 90% of Taiwan’s reserves are in US dollars. Experts and lawmakers say this can risk the country. Ko warned that depending too much on the US dollar could hurt Taiwan. If the dollar falls or the New Taiwan Dollar rises, reserve value could drop. This may cause economic problems and weaken financial stability.

Lawmaker Ju-Chun Ko asked the government to check all the Bitcoin it owns. This includes cryptocurrency seized in legal cases. Last year, prosecutors in Taiwan took about $146 million in crypto from a big fraud case. Ko said the government should keep this Bitcoin for possible future use. It should not be sold quickly. Holding these assets could help Taiwan build a digital reserve as rules for cryptocurrency change.

Premier Cho Jung-tai said the US dollar is still the main global currency. But the government is open to looking at new digital currencies. Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long promised to give a report on a Bitcoin reserve plan by the end of this year.

Global Bitcoin Trends and Regulatory Challenges Shape Taiwan’s Digital Asset Strategy

Taiwan’s interest in Bitcoin as part of national reserves mirrors a growing global trend. On March 6, former US President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order creating the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the United States Digital Asset Stockpile. 

Just a few minutes ago, President Trump signed an Executive Order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

The Reserve will be capitalized with Bitcoin owned by the federal government that was forfeited as part of criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings. This means it…

— David Sacks (@davidsacks47) March 7, 2025

In the United States, several states are also creating Bitcoin reserve laws. Ko mentioned 18 states, including New Hampshire, Arizona, and Texas, that already include Bitcoin in their reserve plans. While planning continues, Taiwan still faces rules and regulations for digital assets. Legislator Ko criticized slow progress on the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) law. He warned that uncertainty could slow industry growth and weaken Taiwan’s role in digital finance.

Currently, nine cryptocurrency platforms are regulated in Taiwan. But delays in full VASP legislation may limit development and reduce fintech opportunities. Other countries offer examples. The US GENIUS Act and Singapore’s digital asset rules give clear guidance for cryptocurrency oversight. Ko suggested banks and VASPs should work together, not in a top-down way, to encourage innovation.