A groundbreaking bill in the Philippines promotes the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve, aimed at enhancing economic sovereignty and ensuring the country's financial resilience in the future.
New Bill in the Philippines Aims for National Bitcoin Reserve to Strengthen Economic Sovereignty
A legislative effort to reshape the Philippines' approach to financial resilience is gaining attention as the country considers integrating Bitcoin into its national reserves. Philippine Representative Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte introduced House Bill No. 421 on June 30, 2025, officially titled “An Act Creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Allocating Funds for That Purpose.” This measure, of national significance, was read in the House of Representatives on July 29, 2025, and is currently awaiting processing in the Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries.
The proposal outlines a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve managed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), directing the purchase of up to 10,000 BTC—2,000 BTC annually over five years—to be held in a trust fund for 20 years. Villafuerte emphasized the intent of the bill:
Although the Philippines has reserves of dollars and gold, the increasing importance of BTC in securing financial and economic strength across continents necessitates the country to undertake significant legislative measures to maximize urgent economic opportunities to protect our financial position.
According to the bill, BSP will build a decentralized Bitcoin storage network, stating: “The governor will establish a decentralized Bitcoin storage network across the Philippines.” These facilities will become part of a nationwide distributed cold storage infrastructure to ensure sustainable operational capability. The BSP governor will be responsible for managing the holdings, coordinating with the Departments of Finance, Defense, and Information and Communications Technology, and will publish quarterly public reports audited by a third party.
This reserve will be directly funded from BSP's existing budget, and the procurement timeline is clarified in the bill:
Through BSP, a Strategic BTC Reserve will be created to purchase 2,000 BTC annually over a period of five years, and will be held in a trust fund for 20 years.
Although opponents point to price volatility and regulatory uncertainty, supporters argue that Bitcoin's limited supply and its decentralized nature provide protection against inflation and systemic financial risk. The bill includes clear language protecting the right to own personal property, banning the seizure of legally held Bitcoin, and reaffirming the freedom to buy, use, and transfer this asset.
