Legislator Advocates Diversifying National Holdings with Cryptocurrency Amid Ongoing Discussion on Currency Reserves

Table of Contents Taiwan’s push for a Bitcoin reserve entered a new phase on April 29 when legislator Dr. Ko Ju-Chun formally presented a policy report to Premier Cho Jung-tai and Central Bank of China Governor Yang Chin-long. The report, produced by the Bitcoin Policy Institute, urges the government to allocate a share of Taiwan’s $602 billion in foreign exchange holdings to Bitcoin. The move signals growing momentum for digital asset integration within Taiwan’s financial policymaking circles. The formal session took place within Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, which operates under the country’s semi-presidential system. In that structure, the premier holds considerable authority over domestic economic policy. Dr. Ko presented the BPI report during an official interpellation session, making it the first time the document reached the premier directly. Ko first raised these ideas with the central bank governor during a separate session on March 30. The April 29 session escalated the conversation by including the head of government. Ko also requested that the CBC produce a new report within one month, covering stablecoins and broader digital asset reserve strategies. The BPI report was written by BPI Fellow Jacob Langenkamp and published in March 2026. It draws attention to the fact that over 80% of Taiwan’s reserves are held in U.S. dollar-denominated assets. This concentration creates exposure to currency debasement and potential geopolitical disruption, according to the report’s findings. Langenkamp elaborated on why Bitcoin stands apart from traditional reserve assets, stating: “Taiwan faces a unique convergence of geopolitical risk and reserve concentration that makes the case for Bitcoin reserves especially compelling.” He further explained that conventional assets fall short under extreme conditions, adding that “in a scenario where physical gold is stranded and dollar reserves face restrictions, Bitcoin remains fully accessible without physical transport.” Taiwan’s central bank had previously evaluated Bitcoin as a reserve asset in late 2025. At that time, the CBC concluded it was unsuitable, pointing to concerns around volatility, limited liquidity, and custody risks. However, the CBC also committed to a digital asset sandbox, using 210 seized Bitcoin to run future testing. That earlier conclusion has not stopped lawmakers from revisiting the issue. Dr. Ko, who serves as vice co-chair of the Legislative Yuan’s US-Taiwan Caucus and founder of the Emerging Technology Exchange Association, has continued to push for a structured policy review. His follow-through demonstrates that the conversation is not fading. Reflecting on the broader reach of BPI’s research, Sam Lyman, head of research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, pointed to the weight of Ko’s actions: “BPI’s research is reaching the highest levels of government, both here in the United States and abroad.” He added that the legislator’s direct presentation to Taiwan’s top officials showed how seriously Bitcoin is now being considered as a strategic asset, noting: “Our job is to educate the public on the benefits of Bitcoin, and this report is in furtherance of that goal.” The CBC’s one-month deadline to respond on stablecoins and digital asset reserves sets a concrete timeline. Whether the bank revises its earlier position or defends it will likely shape the next phase of this policy debate in Taiwan.