Global Bitcoin FOMO? Ex-Binance Boss CZ Just Spiced Things up Big Time

Changpeng Zhao is once again driving discussions around national Bitcoin adoption. The latest catalyst? A proposal from the Czech Republic’s central bank to allocate 5% of its national reserves — approximately $7.3 billion — into Bitcoin. If implemented, this would mark one of the most significant state-level Bitcoin acquisitions to date, securing over 71,000 $BTC at current market rates.

Zhao has long suggested that governments are moving beyond passive observation and actively considering Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. He previously noted that the race to establish sovereign Bitcoin holdings has already begun, a sentiment that appears to be gaining traction among policymakers.

Other nations are already exploring similar initiatives. In Switzerland, lawmakers recently put forth a vote on creating a national Bitcoin reserve and even proposed integrating Bitcoin into the country’s constitution.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong legislators have introduced discussions about incorporating $BTC into fiscal reserves, potentially leveraging the Exchange Fund for long-term holdings. In Chile, lawmakers are forming a congressional committee to assess the feasibility of a national Bitcoin reserve.

At one point, the idea of national Bitcoin holdings was seen as a bit unusual, but now it is a real conversation piece. As the global economy shifts and traditional financial systems have a tough time, governments are taking a fresh look at Bitcoin. They are not just thinking about it as a way to make money but also as a strategic financial tool.

Top countries by Bitcoin holdings right now

As of January 2025, a bunch of governments worldwide have a lot of Bitcoin ($BTC), mostly obtained through law enforcement seizures, strategic investments or mining operations. The U.S. is in the lead with about 207,189 $BTC, worth about $21.48 billion, mostly from criminal asset forfeitures, like the Silk Road and Bitfinex-related cases.

China is close behind, with 194,000 $BTC worth $20.11 billion, mostly from seizures like the PlusToken Ponzi scheme. The U.K. has 61,000 $BTC, worth about $6.32 billion, and most of that was seized during cybercrime investigations.