Czech Central Bank Launches $1M Bitcoin and Stablecoin Test Portfolio
On Nov. 13 the Czech National Bank disclosed a $1 million test portfolio combining Bitcoin, a stablecoin and a tokenized deposit as a controlled experiment to gain hands‑on experience with custody, compliance and on‑chain mechanics. Officials emphasize the exercise is technical and operational in scope — designed to explore settlement, custody arrangements and legal ramifications rather than to alter its €140 billion reserve strategy or the koruna’s status as legal tender.
The move is small but significant: direct market impact is limited, yet the experiment signals growing central bank interest in practical digital‑asset know‑how. Building in‑house expertise could shape future supervisory guidance, clarify custody standards for institutions and inform Prague’s stance on stablecoins and tokenized instruments. For markets, it’s a cautious, pragmatic step toward better understanding rather than immediate policy change.