Swedish Lawmakers Push for Bitcoin Reserve to Diversify National Holdings and Bypass Fiat Risk
Sweden is evaluating a formal motion that could pave the way for the country’s first national Bitcoin reserve. On October 1, 2025, Members of Parliament Dennis Dioukarev and David Perez submitted a proposal calling on the Swedish government to explore integrating Bitcoin into the nation’s sovereign reserves. Their proposal includes transferring confiscated digital assets into national holdings and ensuring the country’s monetary policy framework remains untouched.
The Swedish Democrats, the party behind the motion, play a key role in supporting the country’s current minority coalition. Holding over 20% of the vote in the last general election, their influence in national policymaking remains substantial. According to the text submitted to the Riksdag, the goal is to diversify Sweden’s reserve structure, currently composed of gold and fiat currencies, by adding a digital component.
Bitcoin Seizures as Funding Mechanism
Instead of allocating public funds, the proposal outlines a plan to seed the Bitcoin reserve using assets seized by Swedish authorities. In November 2024, Sweden enacted a law permitting the confiscation of luxury assets, including cryptocurrencies, from individuals who fail to prove legal ownership.
To date, authorities have seized over $8.4 million in crypto assets under the updated legislation. The lawmakers recommend that these assets be transferred directly to the Riksbank or another designated state authority. This approach bypasses conventional auction methods typically used for liquidating confiscated items.
The motion maintains that directly integrating seized assets into national reserves is more efficient and aligns with the purpose of long-term diversification. While the final authority responsible for managing the holdings remains undecided, the proposal leaves this question open for future determination.
No Change to Sweden’s Legal Tender Framework
Alongside the reserve plan, Dioukarev and Perez request that the Swedish government commit to maintaining the current definition of legal tender. They oppose introducing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) under the Riksbank Act, the law that governs the operations of Sveriges Riksbank. The motion explicitly asks for no legislative changes to the existing monetary framework.
Although Sweden has already transitioned largely to digital payments primarily through platforms like Swish, concerns remain about the broader implications of CBDCs. In March 2024, the Riksbank released the final report from its CBDC pilot, which concluded that adopting such a currency is ultimately a political decision. The proposal from the Swedish Democrats states that preserving Bitcoin’s legal status, while avoiding a state-issued digital currency, would signal continued support for decentralized innovation.
Comparative Context and Regional Dynamics
Several other countries have already begun integrating digital assets into public financial structures. El Salvador and Bhutan maintain active government-controlled Bitcoin holdings, while Kazakhstan has also moved to include crypto in its reserves. Additionally, countries such as Latvia, Poland, and Finland have explored channeling seized digital assets into official reserves. In the United States, the GENIUS Act, signed in March 2025, authorized a national Bitcoin reserve funded through confiscated assets.
U.S. states like Texas, Arizona, and New Hampshire have taken steps to legislate their own digital reserves. This pattern reflects a growing interest in Bitcoin among national and regional governments, particularly as geopolitical uncertainty reshapes how states evaluate economic stability. Dioukarev and Perez cite this international momentum as one reason why Sweden should not delay its entry into what they describe as a “digital arms race.”
The lawmakers argue that without such action, Sweden risks lagging behind its Nordic peers in securing digital sovereignty. While countries like Norway and Denmark have increased their blockchain-related research and development, Sweden has yet to formalize a national stance on Bitcoin reserves. Dioukarev and Perez view the reserve as both a defensive financial tool and a step toward broader recognition of blockchain’s role in future economies.
Bitcoin as a Hedge Against Global Uncertainty
The motion outlines specific benefits of adding Bitcoin to Sweden’s official reserve structure. The proponents point out that traditional reserves such as gold and foreign currencies remain exposed to political, geopolitical, and economic risks. They emphasize that Bitcoin’s value, by contrast, does not rely on the monetary policy decisions of individual states.
The proposal states that incorporating Bitcoin would lower the overall correlation within the national reserve, potentially improving resilience. Its decentralized nature, capped supply of 21 million coins, and deep global liquidity are listed as features contributing to its appeal. Furthermore, Dioukarev and Perez argue that Bitcoin transactions are faster and less expensive than fiat-based systems, adding efficiency to cross-border and domestic operations.
Data from Bitbo confirms that Sweden currently holds no publicly listed Bitcoin in its national treasury. However, the country’s legal and technological framework could support such a transition. Bitcoin is legal in Sweden, with multiple crypto ATMs and exchange platforms already regulated by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority under Anti-Money Laundering and Know-Your-Customer guidelines.
Building on Previous Political Action
This is not the first time Swedish lawmakers have addressed the idea of a national Bitcoin strategy. In April 2024, Rickard Nordin, Deputy Leader of the Centre Party, sent an open letter to Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, requesting that the government consider adopting Bitcoin. He referenced the global rise in state-held crypto reserves as a prompt for urgent review.
The current motion echoes that call but adds operational recommendations and legal assurances. It aims to establish a clear path for transferring seized cryptocurrency assets to national holdings, while also providing regulatory clarity for market participants. The motion seeks to balance the benefits of innovation with the stability of Sweden’s current financial framework.
Swedish Crypto Sector Activity
According to Tracxn, 85 companies are currently active in Sweden’s crypto industry. Of those, 20 have raised approximately $48 million in private funding. The sector includes a mix of exchange platforms and cold wallet developers, signaling growing participation in the broader blockchain economy.
Source: Tracxn
The lawmakers assert that owning Bitcoin would not only diversify financial reserves but also position Sweden as a country open to digital innovation. By linking the reserve to existing crypto confiscations and limiting taxpayer exposure, they argue the strategy aligns with both fiscal responsibility and technological progress.
As the Riksdag prepares to review the motion by October 15, Sweden joins an expanding list of nations evaluating how digital assets might reshape traditional financial planning. The outcome could determine whether Sweden adapts early or waits to follow international precedent.
