On June 10, the parliament of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, received bill number 13356, which proposes to authorize the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to include Bitcoin among the state reserves, alongside gold and foreign currencies.
This initiative, while not imposing any obligation on the central bank, represents a concrete step towards the integration of emerging financial technologies into the national economic system. According to what was stated by the parliamentarian Yaroslav Zhelezniak, the promoter of the bill, the final decision on the purchase and management of cryptocurrencies will rest solely with the NBU.
Total discretion for the National Bank
One of the central aspects of the bill is the total discretion granted to the National Bank of Ukraine. The institution will not be obligated to purchase cryptocurrencies, but it will have the authority to do so, deciding independently the timing, methods, and quantities to allocate to this type of reserve.
“How, when, and how much should be the decision of the regulatory authority itself,”
Zhelezniak emphasized through his Telegram channel, clarifying that the role of the parliament is to provide a flexible regulatory framework, not to impose operational directives.
An opportunity for macroeconomic stability
According to the promoters of the bill, the possibility of including digital assets in state reserves is not only a matter of modernization but also a strategy to strengthen the macroeconomic stability of the country. In a constantly evolving global context, where cryptocurrencies are gaining more and more space in institutional portfolios, Ukraine aims not to fall behind.
Zhelezniak stated that “proper management of cryptocurrency reserves will help strengthen macroeconomic stability and create new opportunities for the development of the digital economy.” The adoption of innovative financial instruments could therefore represent an important lever for economic growth and the integration of Ukraine into international financial circuits.
The comparison with other countries
In the course of a video published online, Zhelezniak discussed the topic with Kirill Khomyakov, regional head of Binance for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. During the dialogue, the parliamentarian highlighted how Ukraine is aligning with a trend already underway in several global jurisdictions.
Countries like Stati Uniti, El Salvador, Svizzera, and Brasile are exploring or have already initiated policies for accumulating strategic reserves in cryptocurrencies. The inclusion of digital assets in state budgets is seen by many governments as a response to the growing digitalization of the economy and as a form of reserve diversification.
A signal of opening to the future
The legislative initiative represents a clear signal: Ukraine intends to position itself as an active player in the global financial landscape, ready to experiment with new solutions to tackle the economic challenges of the future. The openness to the possibility of holding cryptocurrencies as state reserves is a first step that could have significant implications both domestically and internationally.
Although the bill does not impose any immediate obligation, its approval could pave the way for more advanced wealth management strategies, in line with the evolutions of the global market. Furthermore, the initiative could strengthen Ukraine’s attractiveness for international investors and for companies in the fintech sector.
Conclusions: between caution and innovation
The bill 13356 represents a balance between institutional prudence and innovative ambition. On one hand, it leaves the National Bank of Ukraine the freedom to decide if and how to proceed; on the other, it officially opens the door to the entry of cryptocurrencies into the heart of national economic policy.
In a world where digital currencies are rapidly gaining legitimacy and spread, Ukraine seems to want to play a leading role, without giving up the necessary caution. If approved, the bill could represent an important precedent for other countries that are considering the integration of cryptocurrencies into their state reserves.
Waiting for the parliamentary vote, it remains to be seen whether the National Bank of Ukraine will decide to seize this opportunity. But one thing is certain: with this proposal, Ukraine has sent a clear message to the global finance world.