On April 29, 2026, Dr. Ko Ju-Chun, a member of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, delivered the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s (BPI) report on bitcoin reserves directly to Premier Cho Jung-tai and Central Bank of China Governor Yang Chin-long during a formal interpellation session. The proposal recommends that Taiwan allocate a small portion of its massive $602 billion foreign exchange reserves into bitcoin, marking the first time a major Asian economy has formally debated a national bitcoin reserve at the legislative level.
Proposal Details: A $2.5 Billion Bitcoin Pilot
According to the BPI report authored by Jacob Langenkamp, Taiwan’s FX reserves are over 80% denominated in U.S. dollar assets. The initial allocation floated is approximately $2.5 billion in bitcoin, less than 0.5% of total reserves — a modest entry point but a symbolically significant one. The report argues that the current concentration creates exposure to currency devaluation risk and, critically, to scenarios where Taiwan’s dollar assets could become inaccessible due to geopolitical escalation with China. Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins, decentralization, and resistance to seizure make it uniquely suited as a reserve asset alongside gold and foreign currency.
A Geopolitical Hedge Tailored for Taiwan
Ko Ju-Chun emphasized Taiwan’s unique vulnerability during the interpellation. Like Russia facing SWIFT sanctions in 2022, Taiwan’s dollar-denominated assets could be frozen or cut off under extreme geopolitical scenarios. Bitcoin, operating on a global blockchain network beyond any single government’s control, cannot be confiscated through financial blockades. The BPI report explicitly cites bitcoin's censorship-resistance and seizure-resistance as key advantages. Compared to traditional hedges like gold, bitcoin offers higher liquidity, lower storage costs, and programmability, aligning with the digital transformation of the modern financial system.
Joining the Global Bitcoin Reserve Wave
Taiwan’s proposal is not an isolated move. In the United States, at least 15 states have advanced legislation to establish bitcoin reserves, while federal discussions around a strategic reserve are heating up. Brazil recently reintroduced a bill that would allow up to 1 million BTC in national reserves. Politicians in Japan and Switzerland have also expressed interest. Ko Ju-Chun’s formal submission places Taiwan firmly in the global debate — whether Taipei ultimately acts or not, the conversation has now entered official chambers.
As of now, the Central Bank and the Executive Yuan have not publicly responded. However, analysts believe that with accelerating de-dollarization trends and growing institutional acceptance of bitcoin, reserve managers across Asia will be forced to seriously consider digital assets in their new paradigm. Ko’s proposal could push Taiwanese regulators to conduct deeper research into bitcoin and potentially launch a small-scale pilot in the future.