Overview
- The CNB created a $1 million test portfolio dominated by bitcoin alongside a USD stablecoin and a tokenized deposit.
- The holdings are kept outside official international reserves with no plan to expand the allocation, equating to about 0.0006% of CNB assets.
- Multiple outlets report this as the first direct bitcoin holding on a central bank balance sheet, signaling a symbolic but cautious step.
- The bank board approved the program on Oct. 30, and the assets were purchased through an exchange with counterparties undisclosed.
- The project will test custody, settlement, key management, multi-level approvals, security, crisis drills and AML compliance, with CNB Lab coordinating and publishing findings over two to three years.