Bitcoin News Today: Philippines Proposes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to Combat $285 Billion National Debt

A Philippine congressman has proposed a government-run Bitcoin reserve modeled after strategic commodity reserves such as oil, maple syrup, and grain, aiming to address the country's growing national debt. The proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, introduced by Rep. Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte, would see the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) acquire 2,000 BTC annually over five years, accumulating a total of 10,000 BTC. These digital assets would be stored in secure, geographically dispersed cold storage facilities and can only be accessed or sold to reduce government debt or in times of national financial crisis [1].

The bill emphasizes the need to diversify the country’s financial assets in light of cryptocurrency’s increasing role in the global financial system. It outlines strict rules for the reserve, including a 20-year lock-up period, after which no more than 10% of the assets can be sold within any two-year period. This restriction aims to prevent market volatility from impacting the government’s fiscal strategy [1]. Forks and airdropped assets generated from the reserve would also be retained for at least five years, ensuring continued value accumulation.

The central bank would be responsible for establishing and maintaining the reserve, with quarterly audits conducted by independent third parties to ensure transparency and accountability. The legislation also assures that the reserve will not affect private ownership of Bitcoin, explicitly stating that the government will not confiscate individual crypto holdings [1].

The proposed initiative comes as the Philippine Bureau of the Treasury reported a national debt of $285 billion in January, equivalent to 60% of the country’s GDP [1]. Villafuerte cited international examples such as the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve as inspiration, reflecting a broader trend of nations exploring non-traditional assets to bolster economic resilience.

While the bill remains in the proposal stage, it marks a significant shift in the conversation around sovereign cryptocurrency holdings and debt management. If passed, the Philippines would join a small but growing group of countries considering digital assets as part of their national financial strategy.

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[1] Philippine Congressman Proposes Bitcoin Reserve to Attack National Debt

https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/08/25/philippine-congressman-proposes-bitcoin-reserve-to-attack-national-debt