Ukraine’s parliament has introduced a bill proposing to allow the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to include Bitcoin as part of the country’s state reserves, alongside gold and foreign currencies. The bill 13356 gives the NBU full discretion to buy and manage cryptocurrencies without any obligation.
Supporters argue that incorporating digital assets into national reserves could enhance Ukraine’s macroeconomic stability and boost the digital economy.
Lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said the flexible framework lets the NBU decide when, how, and how much cryptocurrency to acquire independently.
Several countries, including the US, El Salvador, Switzerland, and Brazil, are exploring or already hold cryptocurrencies in their reserves. Ukraine’s move aligns with this global trend and signals an openness to financial innovation, potentially improving its attractiveness to investors and fintech firms.
While cautious, the bill represents a step towards modernising Ukraine’s economic policy and integrating emerging financial technologies.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Paraguay’s government warned of possible unauthorised access to President Santiago Peña’s X account after a false Bitcoin legal tender claim. The now-deleted message announced a $5 million Bitcoin reserve fund and featured a decree with the national coat of arms.
Officials quickly noted inconsistencies in the statement’s formatting and tone. No matching information was published on government websites or state-run media. These red flags led observers to question the post’s authenticity almost immediately.
Authorities confirmed that the president’s account had shown signs of ‘irregular activity’, suggesting it may have been compromised. Citizens have been urged to ignore the claim and await verified updates through official channels.
Although countries like El Salvador have formally adopted Bitcoin as legal tender, Paraguay has made no such move. At the time of writing, no further details had been released regarding the source or method of the suspected breach.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Romania’s national postal service has taken a digital leap by installing its first Bitcoin ATM in Tulcea. The move is part of a wider effort to modernise Poșta Română and bring cryptocurrency services to less connected regions.
The initiative was launched in collaboration with Bitcoin Romania, one of the country’s leading crypto exchanges.
Additional Bitcoin ATMs are scheduled for deployment in Alexandria, Piatra Neamț, Botoșani, and Nădlac. Placing ATMs in post offices signals a shift in public attitudes, as institutions embrace modern financial tools in everyday settings.
The goal is to boost accessibility while embracing a broader digital transformation.
Although the number of Bitcoin users continues to rise, global adoption remains low. A recent River report found that just 4% of the global population owns Bitcoin, with 14% of users based in the United States.
Despite this, Bitcoin’s market cap—currently just over $2 trillion—remains a fraction of its estimated potential.
Researchers believe Bitcoin could one day capture up to 50% of the global store-of-value market, which is valued at around $225 trillion. With adoption still lagging, analysts argue that Bitcoin has significant room for future growth.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance, has urged companies adopting Bitcoin as a treasury asset to carefully assess the associated risks. On 3 June, Zhao said risk is a business constant, varying in degree rather than being simply present or absent.
Zhao warned that avoiding risk can be as harmful as over-taking it, risking missed chances or unpreparedness for shocks. He stressed that, with a balanced approach, companies can find an optimal risk-to-reward ratio suited to their needs.
Zhao stressed companies must prepare for extreme events like currency collapse or Bitcoin losing all value. His comments come amid growing corporate interest in Bitcoin treasuries, including Trump Media and GameStop.
Experts explain that companies are increasingly turning to Bitcoin to reduce counterparty risk and currency instability. Bitcoin’s fixed supply and predictable issuance make it a strong defensive asset and aid multinational cross-border transactions.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek has resigned after it emerged he received a €40 million bitcoin donation from a convicted drug dealer.
The funds, amounting to roughly 468 bitcoins, were sent by Tomáš Jiřikovský, previously imprisoned for operating an illicit drug marketplace and crypto theft.
Although courts did not confirm the crypto’s criminal origins, the transaction sparked widespread suspicion and investigations into potential money laundering and abuse of office.
Blažek denies any wrongdoing but stepped down to limit political fallout, a move welcomed by Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan described the donation as damaging to the Czech government’s credibility, and authorities have since frozen the funds.
Opposition parties have called for the government’s resignation ahead of an emergency parliamentary session on 5 June.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has revealed it holds Bitcoin in its treasury, becoming the first sports club to make such a move public. The announcement was made during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas by Pär Helgosson, head of PSG Labs.
He called it part of a ‘new generation trend,’ reflecting the club’s efforts to align with future-facing innovations.
The club began acquiring Bitcoin last year, converting part of its fiat reserves into the digital asset. Helgosson highlighted the relevance of the decision by pointing out that 80% of PSG’s global fanbase is under the age of 34.
With over 550 million fans worldwide, the move positions PSG as a leader among sports organisations adapting to the digital economy.
Football remains the most active sport for crypto sponsorships, accounting for 43% of all crypto deals in the 2024/25 season, according to SportQuake.
The trend has seen a 64% annual increase, driven largely by European leagues and global campaigns amid political uncertainty in the US.
PSG joins a growing number of institutions adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets. Analysts credit both exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and political momentum, particularly under President Trump’s administration, for boosting corporate confidence in Bitcoin as a strategic asset.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Reform UK has become the first British political party to accept donations in Bitcoin, party leader Nigel Farage announced during a cryptocurrency conference in Las Vegas. Farage presented a draft ‘Crypto Assets and Digital Finance Bill’ that he pledged to enact if elected prime minister, promising to spearhead a ‘crypto revolution’ in the UK and declaring that digital assets are ‘here to stay.’
The proposed bill includes significant reforms such as slashing the capital gains tax on cryptocurrencies from 24% to 10% and establishing a Bitcoin digital reserve at the Bank of England. Reform UK’s website was updated Thursday evening to begin accepting crypto contributions.
Farage’s stance contrasts with Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who recently outlined plans to regulate crypto firms similarly to traditional finance institutions, aiming to make the UK a ‘world leader’ in the field. However, not all British lawmakers are aligned on the issue.
— The Bitcoin Conference (@TheBitcoinConf) May 29, 2025
A Treasury Select Committee earlier recommended regulating crypto like gambling due to its volatility and risks for investors. The Treasury rejected this idea, signalling ongoing debate over how best to manage the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.
Farage’s embrace of crypto echoes moves seen in the US, where former President Donald Trump’s campaign raised millions in digital currency. Reform UK’s leader praised America’s crypto adoption, voicing his ambition to make London a global hub for digital finance, despite ongoing political controversy surrounding crypto-linked campaign contributions in the US.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Pakistan is moving ahead with plans to establish a national Bitcoin reserve as part of a broader digital asset strategy. Bilal Bin Saqib, head of the Pakistan Crypto Council, announced the move at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
He emphasised that the government’s intention is long term and not driven by market speculation. He stated that once acquired, the Bitcoin would never be sold.
The government plans to launch a national Bitcoin wallet and adopt blockchain technologies. The reserve’s size is unclear, but the move follows the US example and shows Pakistan’s growing trust in blockchain.
Officials are also preparing to allocate 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centres. The aim is to boost jobs, modernise the power sector, and attract investment.
In parallel, the country is creating the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) to regulate the crypto sector. The agency will regulate exchanges and token platforms and develop frameworks for DeFi and blockchain-based public finance.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Crypto ownership in Singapore fell from 40% to 29% in 2024, as more investors sold off their holdings. Nearly half of holders exited the market, and most walked away with a profit.
According to the 2025 Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index, 67% of those who sold made gains. The platform’s CEO, Lasanka Perera, said this shift was less about losing interest and more a ‘recalibration’ of investment priorities.
Many investors are favouring cash or fixed deposits, with 49% choosing these safer options, up from 42% last year. Stocks still remain more popular, with nearly half of Singaporeans investing in them, compared to just one in five who now hold crypto.
Confidence among remaining holders is steady. Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to dominate portfolios, and over half say they plan to buy more in the next year. Meanwhile, 52% of crypto users have already used digital assets for payments, with growing interest in doing so more often.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Bitcoin surged to a fresh all-time high of $111,544 during early Asian trading on Thursday, marking a 4% jump from Wednesday’s peak. The rally follows a dip to $106,000 earlier in the week and reflects rising interest in alternative assets amid global financial uncertainty.
The immediate driver appears to be weak demand for the US Treasury’s $16 billion 20-year bond auction, which pushed yields above 5.1%. Falling trust in long-term government debt has driven a shift in sentiment, with US and Japanese yields rising sharply.
Bitcoin’s rise has been supported by several macroeconomic factors, including softer US inflation, a cooling of US-China trade tensions, and Moody’s downgrade of US sovereign debt. Analysts suggest risk assets could benefit over the coming months if uncertainty continues to shake traditional markets.
On-chain data confirms increasing demand. Bitcoin’s realised market cap rose by $27 billion in May, while exchange inflows dropped 82% since November.
Institutional interest is also growing, with over $4.24 billion flowing into Bitcoin ETFs in the past month and major firms like Strategy boosting their holdings to $63 billion.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
