Russian Lawmaker Submits Proposal to Create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

The stakes for a strategic Bitcoin reserve among countries are rising, with Russia becoming the latest to receive such a proposal.

A Russian lawmaker has proposed to the country’s finance ministry that it adopt Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. State Duma Deputy Anton Tkachev of the New People party submitted the proposition on Monday, local news outlet RIA Novosti reported.

Tkachev urged Russia’s finance minister, Anton Siluanov, to consider investing in Bitcoin as a reserve asset, as the country does with other traditional financial assets. The lawmaker suggested that considering its unique qualities, Bitcoin would provide economic upsides for Russia.

Lawmaker Teases Bitcoin as Russia’s Economic Solution

The lawmaker cited that Bitcoin would provide respite for Russia on key economic fronts. According to him, Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset would hedge the economy against the inflation affecting fiat currencies, bolstering the country’s financial stability. 

Furthermore, the decentralized nature of the Bitcoin technology will help Russia avert Western sanctions. With the innovation, the lawmaker implied that Russia could carry out cross-border transactions without bounds or restrictions.

Meanwhile, Tkachev also views Russia’s adoption of Bitcoin as a ploy to tap the asset’s growth potential. The report noted that Bitcoin’s historical price performance, including its recent surge past $100,000, shows the asset can preserve value while providing substantial gains for the country.

Russia Joins the Bitcoin Bandwagon

The Monday proposal means Russia has become the latest country to receive a proposal encouraging the adoption of Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Countries like Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Poland are already considering the idea.

Meanwhile, the proposal also highlights Russia’s warming stance toward the digital asset. Recently, President Vladimir Putin stated that nobody can ban Bitcoin and expects the innovation to continue to thrive.

Notably, Russia also recently unbanned crypto mining, with the Central Bank of Russia considering using Bitcoin for cross-border trader settlement. Although the use of cryptocurrencies within the country remains prohibited, it would not be long before the Russian government changes its stance on the sanction.