Ukraine submits bill to allow crypto assets in national reserves

Ukraine’s parliament has received a legislative proposal that could permit the country’s central bank to hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in its state reserves, marking a notable step toward integrating digital assets into national financial strategy.

Ukrainian lawmakers have submitted a draft law that would allow the National Bank of Ukraine to hold crypto assets like Bitcoin marking a bold step toward integrating digital currencies into the country’s official reserves alongside gold and foreign currencies.

Crucially, the bill does not mandate that the central bank invest in cryptocurrencies. Instead, it provides the regulatory flexibility to do so at its discretion. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak, who confirmed the bill’s submission via his Telegram channel, emphasized that any decisions on allocation would rest solely with the NBU.

Crypto as a tool for economic resilience

Zhelezniak also stressed that the primary aim of the bill is not to aggressively promote cryptocurrency use by the state, but to align with global trends and create the option for the country to participate in emerging financial innovations.

Properly managing digital asset reserves could reinforce macroeconomic stability and unlock new pathways for the digital economy.

He expanded on this perspective during an interview with Kyrylo Khomiakov, Binance’s regional head for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Khomiakov, who collaborated with lawmakers on drafting the legislation, has reportedly supported similar initiatives in other jurisdictions as part of Binance’s advisory efforts around national crypto reserve frameworks.

The bill also received input from legal and tech experts, including Petr Bilyk, head of the artificial intelligence practice at Juscutum Legal Engineering. Bilyk is also a member of Ukraine’s expert advisory council on AI, indicating a broader push to intertwine digital innovation with national economic policy.

Legislation focused on readiness, not promotion

Zhelezniak clarified that the government is not launching an active campaign in favor of adopting crypto as a core state asset. Rather, the legislation provides a readiness framework so Ukraine is not left behind as global interest in sovereign crypto reserves continues to grow.

“This concept is viable,” he said, referring to other governments that are exploring or already implementing crypto reserve models. “We see several countries moving in this direction.”

The proposal comes as Ukraine edges closer to finalizing another draft law aimed specifically at creating a state-managed cryptocurrency reserve. The momentum surrounding these efforts has intensified in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia and the broader geopolitical drive to stabilize and modernize Ukraine’s financial infrastructure.

The bill highlights a cautious yet forward-looking approach to digital finance offering flexibility without obligation, and innovation without disruption.