Bitcoin (BTC) adoption is rising amongst international locations, with 32 nations actively pursuing publicity by laws, representing roughly one in six nations worldwide, in keeping with a Bitcoin Coverage Institute report printed Sept. 22.
The research paperwork a fast acceleration in authorities adoption following President Donald Trump’s election and subsequent govt order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The report recognized energetic Bitcoin publicity in 27 international locations, whereas 13 have proposed laws to achieve such publicity.
The numbers replicate overlapping classes, as some nations pursue a number of approaches concurrently. Argentina operates government-backed mining utilizing flared gasoline whereas proposing laws for a strategic reserve.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) employs three energetic publicity strategies: government-backed mining, sovereign wealth fund investments in Bitcoin ETFs, and tax cost acceptance.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is the go-to technique
Strategic Bitcoin Reserves (SBR) characterize the most typical method, with 16 international locations having proposed or enacted such insurance policies.
Trump’s govt order established federal coverage of retaining relatively than promoting seized Bitcoin holdings, citing $17 billion in potential beneficial properties that may have been missed from earlier liquidations.
Arizona, New Hampshire, and Texas have codified state-level reserves into regulation, with dozens extra states contemplating related measures.
In addition to the concept of an SBR, government-backed Bitcoin mining ranks because the second most prevalent methodology, with 14 international locations actively or proposing such operations.
Authorities-backed exploration
Ten nations at present mine by electrical energy provision preparations that generate profit-sharing Bitcoin accumulation. Argentina, Bhutan, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Iran, North Korea, Oman, Russia, the UAE, and Venezuela all keep or beforehand operated authorities mining applications.
Seven international locations maintain Bitcoin by passive holdings, comprising seized cryptocurrency that governments have chosen to not promote. Bulgaria, China, Finland, Georgia, India, the UK, and Venezuela keep such holdings, with Finland particularly retaining cash pending court docket rulings.
4 international locations settle for tax funds in Bitcoin throughout numerous jurisdictions. Panama Metropolis, the Swiss cantons, Dubai, and Colorado state enable Bitcoin tax funds, with Vancouver, Canada, proposing related laws.
Authorities pension funds and sovereign wealth funds present further publicity avenues. Michigan’s state pension fund invested straight in Bitcoin, whereas 17 different state pension funds keep oblique publicity by Technique holdings.
Internationally, Japan’s authorities pension fund is exploring direct funding, and South Korea’s fund holds substantial Strategic allocations.
‘Recreation-theoretic race’
The report positioned Bitcoin adoption as a “game-theoretic race” amongst nations searching for alternate options to conventional reserve belongings. Nations view Bitcoin as a complement to gold reserves, offering digital portability benefits over bodily belongings.
The authors argue that Bitcoin affords sanctions-resistant properties and allows direct worldwide funds with out greenback intermediation.
Adoption momentum has accelerated markedly since Trump’s election, with publicity occasions spiking from sporadic pre-2020 exercise to over 50 occasions in early 2025.
The report concluded that main powers throughout continents now have interaction with Bitcoin as a macroeconomic asset, making a reversal unlikely.
