Swedish Lawmakers Push for Bitcoin in National Reserves: "It's Time to Embrace Crypto!"

"Let's Start Stashing Bitcoin!" - Swedish MPs Urge Finance Minister

Hold onto your hats, crypto fans! This week, two Swedish lawmakers have thrown down the gauntlet, challenging Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson to consider adding Bitcoin to Sweden's reserves. Talk about a bold move!

Open Letters Demand a National Bitcoin Strategy

Sweden Democrat Member of the Riksdag Dennis Dioukarev and MP Rickard Nordin aren't messing around. They've both fired off open letters to the finance minister, pushing hard for a national strategy that not only embraces Bitcoin but makes it a cornerstone of Sweden's future financial planning. These guys mean business!

Dioukarev: "Let's Use Seized Crypto to Build Our Reserve!"

Dioukarev's letter, dropped on April 14, is straight fire. He's calling for Sweden to start stockpiling Bitcoin using confiscated crypto assets. And he's not alone - he pointed out that other countries, like the United States, are already doing this. The U.S. just launched a national Bitcoin reserve funded through seized funds. "This is a trend seen in many countries," Dioukarev wrote, putting the finance ministry on the spot about their plans to explore the idea.

Nordin: "It's Time to Rethink Our Reserve Policy!"

But Dioukarev's not the only one shaking things up. Nordin's letter, sent on April 8, is equally fierce. He's asking the government to ditch its old-school reserve policy that's all about gold and start taking Bitcoin's global rise seriously. "Has the minister and the government considered the possibility of allowing the Riksbank to include Bitcoin in Sweden's currency reserve, and will the minister and the government take steps to enable the Riksbank to do so?" he wrote, demanding action.

Bitcoin: More Than Just a Hedge Against Inflation

Nordin's not just talking about Bitcoin as a way to fight inflation. He's going bigger, framing it as a powerful tool for activists and dissidents living under authoritarian regimes. He's all about Bitcoin's role as a censorship-resistant payment system, saying it aligns with democratic values and freedom of expression. And his plan to build a reserve? It's budget-neutral, holding onto any Bitcoin seized by authorities rather than selling it off. "This is how the U.S. has built up a considerable amount without needing to allocate budgetary funds or directly purchase the cryptocurrency," he added, showing Sweden how it's done.

From Crypto Circles to National Policy: The Global Shift

Before the U.S. stepped in, the idea of a national Bitcoin reserve was mostly just talk in crypto circles and think tanks. But that all changed in March when President Donald Trump signed an executive order making Bitcoin an official part of America's sovereign toolkit. Ever since Trump promised to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, the idea's been spreading like wildfire. In January, Czech central bank governor Aleš Michl jumped on board, presenting Bitcoin as a way to diversify. And before that, French Parliament Member Sarah Knafo was pushing European nations to start building their own Bitcoin reserves instead of a central bank digital currency.

Not Everyone's On Board: Australia Says No to Bitcoin Reserves

But not everyone's ready to dive into the Bitcoin pool. Australia, for one, has made it clear they won't be following the U.S. down the Bitcoin reserve path. A spokesperson for the Assistant Treasurer said last month that the Albanese government is all about regulation, not accumulation. Looks like the debate is far from over!