What happened?
Swedish MPs from the Sweden Democrats submitted a motion asking the government to study creating a national Bitcoin reserve and decide which authority would manage it. The proposal recommends a budget-neutral approach by transferring seized cryptocurrency to the Riksbank or another designated agency instead of auctioning it off. The Finance Committee will review the motion on October 15, and if approved Sweden could join a small group of countries treating Bitcoin as a strategic state asset.
Who does this affect?
This affects the Swedish government and the Riksbank, who would need to set policy, custody rules, and oversight for any state-held Bitcoin. Law enforcement and the courts are also implicated because the plan relies on seized crypto, and domestic companies holding Bitcoin will watch for new precedents. Investors and the broader crypto industry — both in Sweden and internationally — will pay close attention because state moves signal shifting regulatory and institutional attitudes.
Why does this matter?
If Sweden adopts a Bitcoin reserve it would boost Bitcoin’s legitimacy and likely attract more institutional interest, supporting long-term demand. In the short term the market could see price support from new state demand and volatility around policy decisions, while transfers of seized assets to state custody could affect supply and liquidity. Overall, the move would add momentum to a global trend of state-level crypto adoption, which can reduce regulatory uncertainty and push Bitcoin deeper into mainstream finance, potentially increasing market capitalization and trading activity.