Ko Ju-Chun urges Taiwan to diversify reserves with Bitcoin amid rising global economic uncertainty - IcoHolder.

Taiwanese legislator Ko Ju-Chun has called on the government to consider adding Bitcoin to the country's national reserves, framing it as a strategic hedge amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Speaking at a national finance conference on May 9, Ko argued that even a small allocation could strengthen Taiwan's economic resilience and diversify its reserve portfolio.

Ko pointed to Bitcoin’s decentralized structure, fixed supply, and increasing adoption as a reserve asset in other countries as key reasons for its inclusion. He also highlighted the volatility of the New Taiwan dollar, due to the nation’s export-driven economy, as another factor justifying a broader reserve mix that includes digital assets.

The legislator proposed that up to 5% of Taiwan’s reserves—an estimated $50 billion—could be allocated to Bitcoin, though he clarified this would be part of a diversified strategy rather than a replacement for existing holdings like gold and foreign currencies. He emphasized Bitcoin’s value as an uncorrelated asset with global liquidity that could provide protection against seizure or capital controls in a crisis scenario.

“Bitcoin is not a silver bullet,” Ko stated, “but it should be part of our broader toolkit to ensure financial stability in an increasingly unpredictable world.”

The suggestion comes as Taiwan gradually shifts toward more crypto-friendly regulation. The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has signaled openness to institutional crypto integration, with pilot programs for digital asset custody expected later this year. On March 25, the FSC released a draft of the Virtual Asset Service Act, which proposes licensing requirements for crypto firms, stablecoin issuance standards for banks, and investor protections. The draft is currently in a 60-day public consultation phase and is expected to reach the Executive Yuan by June 30.

Ko’s proposal also underscores Taiwan’s distinct path from mainland China, which maintains a sweeping ban on most crypto activity. By contrast, Taiwan appears increasingly open to exploring how digital assets can complement traditional financial infrastructure.

While Ko’s recommendation does not represent an official policy shift, it reflects growing interest in Bitcoin’s potential role in national financial planning and places Taiwan among a small group of jurisdictions actively considering the digital asset for sovereign use.