- Plan elevates Philippines among sovereign holders; El Salvador 6,200, United States 198,021, China 190,000; Brazil weighs reserve allocation.
- Trust locks holdings twenty years; sales only for public debt; diversification cites fixed supply and forty percent growth.
The Philippines is weighing a bill that would direct its central bank to buy 10,000 bitcoin over five years. The proposal schedules purchases of 2,000 BTC per year and holds them in a trust for at least 20 years. Sales would be allowed only to reduce public debt. Congressman Migz Villafuerte introduced the plan and framed bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset for financial stability.
NEW: 🇵🇭 Philippines House introduces a bill to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve. 🙌
Directing the central bank to buy 2,000 BTC annually for 5 years (totaling 10,000 BTC) to be held for 20 years to enhance national security and debt stability. pic.twitter.com/RSa8bI8dqP
— Simply Bitcoin (@SimplyBitcoinTV) August 22, 2025
If approved, the program would place the Philippines among the largest state holders of bitcoin. El Salvador, which adopted bitcoin for its treasury earlier, holds about 6,200 BTC. Research firm BitcoinTreasuries estimates that the United States and China control larger balances due to seizures, at roughly 198,021 BTC and 190,000 BTC. The United Kingdom, North Korea, Bhutan, and El Salvador follow at lower levels.
Villafuerte argues that diversification is necessary. He cites bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million and points to a five-year average annual price growth near 40%, alongside recent record highs. He also urges Congress to draft rules that recognize bitcoin as a reserve instrument within a broader asset mix. The trust structure aims to ring-fence holdings from day-to-day budget demands while establishing audit trails.
Meanwhile, the policy debate is widening across the region. Brazil held a public hearing on a bill that would allow up to 5% of national reserves to be converted into bitcoin. At current prices, that cap would cover more than 147,000 BTC, placing Brazil near the top of the sovereign holder table. Supporters in both countries say early action could lower long-term acquisition costs; opponents warn about volatility and balance-sheet risk.
In practice, implementation details will decide outcomes. Purchase cadence, custody standards, and disclosure rules will shape execution. Exchange liquidity and price impact will matter, too. Yet the direction is clear: more governments are assessing bitcoin as a treasury asset, and policy timelines are moving from theory to draft law.
