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Czech Central Bank Buys Bitcoin in $1 Million Pilot to Test Digital Assets

The CNB frames the small, non‑reserve pilot as a way to build operational expertise with tokenised finance.

Overview

  • The board‑approved program includes bitcoin, a USD stablecoin and a tokenised deposit, with purchases executed Nov. 13 via regulated platforms.
  • The bank says the amount will not be actively increased and the holdings sit outside international reserves with no effect on monetary policy or the koruna’s status.
  • An internal CNB Lab will run two‑ to three‑year tests covering custody, key management, multi‑level approvals, crisis procedures, cybersecurity, accounting and AML.
  • The portfolio is classified as an intangible asset and equals about 0.0006% of total CNB assets, with findings to be published after the trial period.
  • The step was widely reported as the first direct bitcoin holding by a central bank, underscoring the CNB’s latitude versus the ECB’s more cautious stance.