Ukrainian lawmakers have introduced a groundbreaking draft bill that could allow the country’s central bank to hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as part of its national reserves — a move that signals Ukraine’s growing interest in integrating with global digital finance trends.
Filed in the Verkhovna Rada on June 10, Bill No. 13356 proposes key amendments to the existing law “On the National Bank of Ukraine.” If passed, it would authorize the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to acquire and store crypto assets, including Bitcoin, alongside traditional reserves such as foreign currency and gold.
The bill, however, does not compel the central bank to adopt crypto reserves. According to Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of parliament and one of the bill’s authors, the final decision on whether to invest in digital assets would remain entirely at the discretion of the NBU.
“How, when, and how much should be the decision of the regulator itself,”
Zhelezniak clarified in a Telegram post.
Lawmakers backing the bill argue that the option to include cryptocurrencies in the NBU’s balance sheet reflects the need to keep pace with evolving financial technologies. Zhelezniak noted that the measure could open new avenues for macroeconomic stability and digital innovation in Ukraine.
In a video commentary discussing the draft, Zhelezniak appeared alongside Kyrylo Khomiakov, Binance’s regional head for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Khomiakov, who reportedly assisted in drafting the legislation, highlighted the potential benefits of state-held crypto assets. Binance has previously been involved in advising several governments on forming similar crypto reserves.
The drafting process also saw input from legal and tech experts, including Petr Bilyk, head of artificial intelligence practice at Juscutum Legal Engineering and a member of Ukraine’s expert committee on AI development.
Zhelezniak emphasized that the bill is not an outright push for government-backed crypto initiatives but rather an attempt to prepare Ukraine for a future where digital assets play a larger role in global economics. The news follows reports on Ukraine nearing the final stages of introducing a draft bill on a state cryptocurrency reserve.
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