Two members of the Swedish Parliament are advocating for the inclusion of Bitcoin in the nation’s financial strategy, specifically urging the finance minister to consider it as part of Sweden’s foreign exchange reserves.
In a letter dated April 14, MP Dennis Dioukarev formally requested that Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson explore the potential of incorporating Bitcoin into the national financial framework.
Today I submitted a question to the swedish minister of finance @ElisabethSvan regarding a strategic bitcoin reserve for the centralbank. pic.twitter.com/Wogil1Camj
— Dennis Dioukarev (@DennisDioukarev) April 14, 2025
The lawmakers’ appeal is grounded in Bitcoin’s characteristics, which they assert are similar to gold, alongside its increasing utility as a financial asset for individuals navigating economic instability and political oppression.
Dioukarev and his colleague propose that Sweden accumulate Bitcoin either through direct policy initiatives or through a method that neutralizes budget impacts, such as retaining Bitcoin seized during law enforcement actions rather than selling it off.
Despite their proposals, skepticism towards the cryptocurrency sector remains prevalent among Swedish authorities, who recently intensified regulations targeting exchanges and miners amid tax and compliance issues.
Sweden’s Pursuit of Financial Independence
The lawmakers assert that Bitcoin could emerge as a form of digital gold—an asset capable of maintaining its value during turbulent economic times.
In his correspondence dated April 8, MP Rickard Nordin further clarified this vision.
Nordin reiterated the need for the Riksbank, Sweden’s central bank, to have the legal capacity to include Bitcoin within its reserves, an idea that is steadily gaining traction internationally.
Swedish MP Rickard Nordin has introduced a motion to add Bitcoin Reserve to Sweden’s national holdings, citing economic uncertainty and the need for fiscal diversification.#CryptoRegulation #BitcoinReserve https://t.co/anQdwjNVrO
— Finance Newso.com (@Finance Newso) April 11, 2025
Nordin emphasized that Bitcoin represents a financial tool that protects democratic values, particularly in nations where authoritarian governments manipulate fiat currencies.
Furthermore, he suggested a budget-neutral approach to building reserves, inspired by a model used in the United States.
This strategy would allow Sweden to amass Bitcoin without taxpayer funding by keeping Bitcoin obtained through law enforcement rather than liquidating it. The U.S. government has effectively accrued significant BTC holdings through similar means, a process solidified in March when former President Donald Trump signed an executive order embedding Bitcoin in the national reserve framework.
Dioukarev’s April 14 letter reinforces this argument, spotlighting the international trend of Bitcoin accumulation and questioning whether Sweden’s finance ministry has formulated a strategy to pursue a similar path.
A National Debate Amid Regulatory Challenges
The growing political momentum for a Swedish Bitcoin reserve faces challenges, as the country’s overall stance on cryptocurrency remains tepid, if not adverse.
Recent enforcement actions indicate substantial regulatory hurdles. In 2024 alone, Swedish authorities intensified scrutiny on a variety of crypto-related operations.
Notably, the Swedish Police Authority and the Financial Intelligence Unit identified several cryptocurrency exchanges as “professional money launderers,” alleging their involvement in facilitating illicit cross-border transactions.
The Swedish Tax Agency’s investigation revealed extensive tax evasion within the mining sector, with 18 out of 21 Bitcoin mining operations assessed from 2020 to 2023 found to have submitted inaccurate or false tax filings, resulting in approximately $90 million in unpaid taxes.
This array of financial irregularities has led to a cautious governmental approach towards the cryptocurrency industry.
The confluence of regulatory gaps, financial misconduct, and external pressures to align with FATF compliance has cultivated a climate of mistrust regarding cryptocurrencies.
Yet, signs of advancement are observable. Notably, in February, Klarna, a prominent fintech company in Sweden, disclosed plans to incorporate crypto capabilities into its platform ahead of its public offering.
@Klarna announces plans to integrate crypto as it prepares for its IPO, marking a new phase in the company’s growth ahead of its IPO.#Klarna #CryptoPayments https://t.co/tfouBmrh5b
— Finance Newso.com (@Finance Newso) February 10, 2025
Such developments indicate an increasing mainstream interest in cryptocurrencies, which may influence future policy decisions.
While it remains uncertain whether Minister Svantesson will act upon these recommendations, the dialogue regarding Bitcoin reserves has firmly entered Sweden’s financial conversation.
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