Recently, a notable proposal has emerged in the Philippines political arena that could make the country one of the first in Asia to establish a "sovereign Bitcoin reserve" through legislation. This proposal was introduced by Congressman Miguel Luis Villafuerte and is titled the "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act" (House Bill No. 421).

The core content of the bill includes requiring the Central Bank of the Philippines to gradually purchase 10,000 Bitcoins over the next 5 years, with a maximum of 2,000 coins purchased each year. Based on the current price of approximately $100,000 per coin, this means an annual investment of about $200 million, totaling around $2 billion over 5 years. It is worth noting that these Bitcoins must be obtained through market transactions, rather than through law enforcement seizures or other means.

What is more concerning is that the bill also stipulates a strict lock-up policy. Once purchased, the Bitcoin will be locked for 20 years, during which it cannot be sold or used as collateral. The only use of these Bitcoins is limited to repaying government debt after the 20-year lock-up period ends. This regulation effectively treats Bitcoin as a long-term savings tool for the country.

This move is seen as a national-level long-term bet on Bitcoin as "digital gold," reflecting the confidence of some politicians in its future value. However, there are also voices expressing doubt about whether the proposal can pass.

Regardless of the final outcome, the emergence of this proposal itself reflects that digital currencies, especially Bitcoin, are gradually gaining wider recognition and attention, even beginning to influence discussions on economic policy at the national level. This trend is worth close observation, as it may signal the profound changes that the global financial system is undergoing.