The Czech National Bank (CNB) said on Thursday that it has bought $1M in cryptocurrencies for the first time.
The move is a small test meant to see how a digital asset reserve might work and to give the bank hands-on experience with managing crypto.
The pilot reserve will hold Bitcoin, a US dollar-linked stablecoin, and a tokenized bank deposit.
CNB officials described the step as a controlled experiment. They said the goal is to understand how these assets behave in real conditions and to prepare for a future where digital assets may play a larger role in global finance.
Bitcoin Update:
I’ll start broadly: if you intend to invest in crypto assets, exercise extreme caution. The market is still in its infancy. I remember the 1990s in our country, when the transition from socialism to capitalism saw the birth and simultaneous collapse of many… https://t.co/UxGF0R7NwO— Aleš Michl (@MICHLiq_) February 19, 2025
The CNB said it has no plans to move toward a full digital asset reserve anytime soon.
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What Does the CNB Want to Learn From Its Digital Asset Trial?
Governor Aleš Michl explained that the move is part of a broader effort to keep the bank in step with fast changes in global finance.
He said the institution needs firsthand experience with new tools if it wants to prepare for what’s ahead.
Along with the crypto purchase, the bank also launched the CNB Lab Innovation Hub. The new unit will test blockchain systems and other financial technologies that may find commercial use in the coming years.
The hub’s goal is simple: help the bank understand how these technologies could influence payments, banking operations, and future monetary policy.
The announcement shows how central banks and governments are paying closer attention to digital assets as more financial activity moves on-chain.
The shift to internet-based infrastructure is pushing major institutions to understand how these systems work and what risks or advantages they may bring.
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Why Did the CNB Board Reject the Plan for a Large Bitcoin Purchase?
The CNB started looking at Bitcoin in January as part of a plan to broaden its international reserves.
That review came after regulators in the United States signaled a more open stance toward crypto earlier this year, a move that caught the attention of several global financial authorities.
Around the same time, Governor Aleš Michl raised a much bigger idea.
He suggested the bank consider buying up to $7.3Bn worth of Bitcoin, roughly 5% of its reserves, to build a formal Bitcoin reserve.
The proposal did not win support from the CNB board and was set aside.
Michl said the bank was also weighing Bitcoin as a possible reserve asset. He noted that it currently shows no correlation with bonds and could play a role in a larger portfolio.
At the same time, he stressed that its long-term value is uncertain, saying it could “end up being worth nothing or possibly a very large amount.”
The CNB increased its exposure to the broader crypto sector earlier this year. In July, it bought 51,732 shares of Coinbase.
The stake was valued at about $18M at the time and is now worth more than $15.7M.
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