• Legislation permits but does not mandate cryptocurrency acquisition.
• The move aligns with the global trend of diversifying state reserves.

The 10th of June, Tuesday, 2025 the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada received a bill with the number 13356, which was an attempt to make changes to the laws that control the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). The bill’s central proposal is to empower the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to oversee the integration of cryptocurrency assets like Bitcoin into Ukraine’s gold and foreign exchange reserves. The move puts Ukraine among the potential leaders in the use of digital currencies in state finance.

The bill does not compel NBU to buy cryptocurrencies but offers the authority to do so. This flexibility allows the central bank to make strategic diversifications of its reserves against the backdrop of shifts in the world economy. Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of parliament, announced the introduction of the bill via Telegram, which means that it is significant to the financial strategy of Ukraine.

The push by Ukraine follows a global trend of nations viewing digital assets as a means of diversifying their reserves. The bill aligns with earlier efforts to legalize cryptocurrencies, and lawmakers began debating it in February 2025 during the CRYPTO 2025 conference in Kyiv. Ukraine views the law as a response to evolving financial conditions and geopolitical concerns.

Strategic Implications for Ukraine’s Economy

The situation with Ukrainian finances could be stabilized in case cryptocurrency reserves were accepted as the state’s reserves. The bill suggests betting against inflation and currency fluctuations by allowing the NBU to add Bitcoin to its asset portfolio, along with traditional assets, like gold. One of the states that has taken such a direction is El Salvador. In 2021, this state legalized Bitcoin as legal tender.

Zhelezniak emphasized that the legislation would be in a position to strengthen the economic status of Ukraine. He added that it would do so without triggering any alarming actions. This kind of discretion by NBU ensures a cautious combination of innovation and stability. The elaboration of the bill takes place against the backdrop of the conflict situation in Ukraine. It also reflects the country’s willingness to modernize its financial base.

In April 2025, a parliamentary committee approved a draft law on virtual assets, but lawmakers later withdrew the project. The current bill is a continuation of these efforts, and it shows that there has been a delay in the desire to interact with cryptocurrency. As stated during the prior sessions, the implementation can be made in collaboration with international exchanges like Binance in case the bill is passed.

The legislation requires further parliamentary review and approval. In the event that it succeeds, it will be the first to potentially set a precedent in other European nations looking at digital assets. In comparison, in May 2025, Texas passed its own Bitcoin reserve bill, allowing its comptroller to invest in cryptocurrencies with a market capitalization exceeding $500 billion.

Global interest in crypto reserves is growing. New Hampshire had created the first crypto reserve in the country in May 2025. Arizona is attempting to follow suit with similar legislation. The bill would place Ukraine in the same line as these front-runners and empower its financial sovereignty.