Sweden is evaluating the formal move that could pave the way for the country’s first national Bitcoin reserve. On October 1, 2025, members of Parliament Dennis Diukarev and David Perez submitted a proposal to the Swedish government to integrate Bitcoin into the country’s sovereign reserves. Their proposals continue to transfer confiscated digital assets to state holdings and maintain the national monetary policy framework.
The Swedish Democrats, the party behind the motion, play a key role in supporting the current minority coalition. With more than 20% of the vote in the last general election, their influence in national policy decisions remains large. According to the text submitted to Riksdag, the goal is to add digital components to diversify the Swedish reserve structure, which is currently made up of gold and Fiat currency.
Bitcoin attacks as a fundraising mechanism
Instead of allocating public funds, the proposal outlines a plan to seed Bitcoin reserves using assets seized by Swedish authorities. In November 2024, Sweden enacted a law allowing for the confiscation of luxury assets, including cryptocurrencies, from individuals who cannot prove their legal ownership.
To date, authorities have seized more than $8.4 million in crypto assets under updated laws. Lawmakers recommend transferring these assets directly to Rikbank or another designated state authority. This approach bypasses traditional auction methods that are commonly used to settle confiscated items.
The move maintains that directly integrating seized assets into the national reserves would be more efficient and consistent with the long-term diversification objectives. The final authority responsible for managing the holding remains undecided, but the proposal leaves this question open for future decisions.
There are no changes to the Swedish statutory framework
In addition to the preliminary plan, Diokarev and Perez demand that the Swedish government commit to maintain the current definition of legal currency. They oppose the introduction of central bank digital currency (CBDC) under the Rixbank Act, the law governing the operations of Sveriguez Rixbank. The move explicitly calls for legislative changes to existing financial frameworks.
Sweden has already moved primarily to digital payments through platforms like Swish, but concerns remain about the broader impact of CBDC. In March 2024, Riksbank released its final report from the CBDC pilot. The proposal from Swedish Democrats says that maintaining Bitcoin’s legal status will demonstrate continued support for decentralized innovation, whilst avoiding state-issued digital currencies.
Comparative context and regional dynamics
Several other countries are already beginning to integrate digital assets into public financial structures. El Salvador and Bhutan maintain active government-controlled Bitcoin Holdings, while Kazakhstan has moved to include crypto in its reserves. Additionally, countries such as Latvia, Poland and Finland are considering leading the seizure of digital assets into official reserves. In the United States, the Genius Act, signed in March 2025, approved the National Bitcoin Reserve, which was funded through forfeiture assets.
US states such as Texas, Arizona and New Hampshire are taking steps to legislate their own digital reserves. This pattern reflects the growing interest in Bitcoin among national and regional governments, particularly as geopolitical uncertainty reshapes how states assess economic stability. Diokarev and Perez cite this international momentum as one of the reasons why Sweden should not delay entry into what is called the “digital arm race.”
Lawmakers argue that without such action, Sweden risks falling behind its Scandinavian peers in order to ensure digital sovereignty. Countries like Norway and Denmark are increasing blockchain-related research and development, but Sweden has yet to formalize its national stance on Bitcoin reserves. Diukarev and Perez see the reserve as a step towards a defensive financial tool and a broader awareness of the role of blockchain in the future economy.
Bitcoin as a hedge against global uncertainty
The move outlines the specific benefits of adding Bitcoin to Swedish official reserve structure. Proponents point out that traditional reserves, such as gold and foreign currency, remain exposed to political, geopolitical and economic risks. They emphasize that, by contrast, the value of Bitcoin does not depend on the financial policy decisions of individual states.
The proposal states that incorporating Bitcoin could reduce overall correlation within national reserves and improve resilience. Its decentralized nature, its supply of 21 million coins, and its deep global liquidity is listed as a feature that contributes to its appeal. Furthermore, Dioukarev and Perez argue that Bitcoin transactions are faster and cheaper than Fiat-based systems, adding efficiency to border and domestic operations.
Bitbo data confirms that Sweden does not currently have Bitcoin, which is publicly available to the State Department. However, the national legal and technical frameworks may support such a transition. Bitcoin is legal in Sweden, with multiple crypto ATMs and exchange platforms already being regulated by Swedish financial supervisors under money laundering and knowledgeable guidelines.
Building on previous political actions
This is not the first time Swedish lawmakers have worked on the idea of a nationwide Bitcoin strategy. In April 2024, Centre Party deputy leader Rickard Nordin sent an open letter to Finance Minister Elizabeth Svanton, demanding that the government consider adopting Bitcoin. He referenced the global rise in crypto reserves held by the state as a quick review.
The current movement is calling, but reiterating the repercussions of adding operational recommendations and legal guarantees. It aims to establish a clear pathway for transferring seized cryptocurrency assets to national holdings, while also providing market participants with clarity of regulations. The move aims to balance the benefits of innovation with the stability of Sweden’s current financial framework.
Swedish Cryptographic Sector Activities
According to Tracxn, 85 companies are currently active in the Swedish crypto industry. Of these, 20 people raised approximately $48 million in private funding. The sector includes a combination of exchange platforms and cold wallet developers, indicating an increase in participation in the broader blockchain economy.
Source: tracxn
Lawmakers argue that by owning Bitcoin, they not only diversify financial reserves, but also position Sweden as an open country for digital innovation. By linking the reserve to the confiscation of existing codes and limiting taxpayer exposure, they argue that the strategy is tailored to both financial liability and technological advances.
With Riksdag preparing to review the motion by October 15th, Sweden will join a nation’s expanded list of countries assessing how digital assets reshape traditional financial plans. The results can determine whether Sweden will adapt early or wait for international precedents to follow.
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