Germany To Follow U.S. In Creating Strategic Bitcoin Reserve?

Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner has said he supports adding Bitcoin (BTC) to national reserves, Handelsblatt reported.

Germany’s Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner has expressed support for adding Bitcoin (BTC) to national reserves, as reported by Handelsblatt. This statement comes amid a growing global discussion on the role of cryptocurrencies in government-held assets.

Christian Lindner, who has also served as Germany’s finance minister, has urged the European Central Bank (ECB) to consider integrating Bitcoin into the federal reserve. He points to the U.S. considering this option as a strong argument for Germany to follow suit.

According to Lindner, a Bitcoin reserve could enhance the resilience of Germany’s reserves. While the U.S. debates adding BTC to federal holdings, with Senator Cynthia Lummis proposing a bill that would require the treasury to purchase 5% of the total Bitcoin supply, the broader conversation continues to unfold.

“The new Trump administration is pursuing an extremely progressive policy on crypto-assets such as Bitcoin. In Washington, there is even consideration of the Federal Reserve including crypto-assets alongside currencies and gold in its reserves,” said Lindner.

Despite the legislative developments, skepticism persists within the U.S. financial sector. Jeff Park, who leads alpha strategies at Bitwise Invest, has reportedly estimated only a 10% chance of the U.S. embracing Bitcoin as a reserve asset in 2024. Meanwhile, other nations like Japan and China are hesitant to include cryptocurrencies in their reserves, as reported by CNF.

While institutional adoption has seen a substantial rise, volatility remains a significant hurdle for inclusion in the reserves of major economies. Critics highlight the vast price fluctuations of Bitcoin as the primary concern, contrasting it with the perceived stability of traditional reserve assets.

However, Lindner dismisses such objections, emphasizing that even precious metals are not exempt from price volatility. His remarks align with a broader argument that Bitcoin could hold strategic value for diversifying and strengthening Germany’s financial reserves.

Germany’s Selloff for BTC In 2024

If Donald Trump successfully creates a Bitcoin reserve after taking office on January 20, 2025, global trends could shift further. It could propel other countries to adopt BTC faster. However, Germany still has a long way to go to create such a reserve since earlier this year, the authorities dumped nearly 50,000 BTC.

Back in July 2024, German authorities announced the completion of a large-scale sale of 50,000 BTC, which generated €2.639 billion ($2.88 billion). This significant dump, which authorities referred to as an “emergency sale,” took place over three weeks between June 19 and July 12.

The Bitcoin reserve was valued at approximately $2.1 billion at the time of its seizure as part of a probe into piracy websites and money laundering activities. Regulators declared the BTC price fluctuations as “irrelevant” to the process.

At the time, the sale was coordinated by the Saxon Police’s Central Office for the Safeguarding, Custody, and Utilization of Cryptocurrencies in partnership with the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office. Germany-based trading firm Bankhaus Scheich also aided in managing the sale to ensure minimal market disruption. “The bank was commissioned to sell the Bitcoins in a way that was fair and gentle on the market,” stated the prosecutor’s office.