Czech National Bank Buys Bitcoin in $1M Test Digital Asset Portfolio
The Czech National Bank announced a $1 million pilot portfolio that includes Bitcoin, a USD-pegged stablecoin and a tokenized dollar deposit, marking the CNB's first direct purchase of digital assets. The move, disclosed on Nov. 13, 2025, is framed as a controlled experiment to evaluate custody solutions, settlement mechanics and operational risks rather than a shift in reserve policy.
While the size of the investment is small and unlikely to move markets, the symbolic value is significant: a mainstream central bank directly holding BTC and tokenized cash instruments could accelerate dialogue on regulation, custody standards and the tokenization of traditional deposits. The CNB said it will monitor legal, technical and accounting outcomes from the test, a step that other monetary authorities may watch closely as they weigh crypto integration and systemic safeguards.