- The National Bank of Poland (NBP) rejects Bitcoin in its reserves, citing concerns over security and financial stability.
- Despite rejecting Bitcoin for reserves, Poland ranks fifth globally in Bitcoin ATMs, surpassing El Salvador with 219 machines.
The decision by the National Bank of Poland (NBP) to reject Bitcoin as part of the country’s foreign exchange reserves has elicited conflicting reactions. Adam Glapiński, NBP President, underlined that first concern is financial stability.
Thus, the reserves of the nation will keep emphasizing gold, the US dollar, and the euro. On the other side, Poland is among the nations having the fastest developing Bitcoin infrastructure worldwide.
POLAND SNUBS BITCOIN RESERVE
Poland's central bank rejected Bitcoin as a reserve asset, calling it too risky and unstable.
NBP President Adam Glapiński insists reserves must be "safe, stable, and permanent," and according to him, Bitcoin doesn't qualify.
Meanwhile, the U.S,… pic.twitter.com/I1OvBgQZ1P
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 8, 2025
Bitcoin Not Included in Reserve Plans
The NBP says Bitcoin is too volatile to be included in the national reserve. In an emergency, Glapiński underlined, assets kept by central banks ought to be fully trustworthy and safe. Gold is still his first choice since its stability has been demonstrated for millennia.
This position is consistent with European Central Bank (ECB) policy, which likewise opposes the concept of reserve Bitcoin inclusion. The ECB underlines that reserve assets ought to be highly liquid and unrelated with too large speculative risks.
A New Perspective on Bitcoin Reserves
The NBP’s ruling is firm, but it does not mean that every Polish person agrees. Before the May 2025 presidential contest, a new conversation starting. Sławomir Mentzen is one of the contenders suggesting another approach. He intends to make Poland more crypto-friendly and even thinks about Bitcoin as reserve for the nation.
Mentzen contends that by creating a Bitcoin reserve, Poland can diversify its holdings and predict significant developments in the world financial scene. According to him, certain nations like El Salvador have already begun this process; if Poland were more open to blockchain technology, it may lead to financial innovation leading to the front stage.
Poland Outperforms El Salvador in Bitcoin ATMs
Fascinatingly, Poland is actually advancing the Bitcoin ecosystem fast even though she rejects Bitcoin as a reserve. With 219 Bitcoin ATMs currently present in Poland, the CNF report claims that country exceeds El Salvador’s stationary 215 devices. Poland is among the fastest developing nations in the world with regard to cryptocurrency infrastructure; it launched ten new Bitcoin ATMs in one day.
Poland has added 24 Bitcoin ATMs since October, therefore confirming its prominence in the ecosystem. Currently ranking fifth in the world among Bitcoin ATMs, Poland follows the United States, Canada, Australia, and Spain.
Crypto Adoption in Poland: A Grassroots Movement
This phenomenon creates a fairly unusual scenario. On the one hand, the central bank and Polish government still hesitate to include Bitcoin in their financial system. On the other hand, the populace is increasingly engaged in using and investing in this digital resource. The hundreds of Bitcoin ATMs scattered throughout several big cities indicate the increasing demand for this asset.
This suggests, according to some observers, that rather than being driven by the government, the private sector and the crypto community are driving Bitcoin acceptance among Poles. This is in line with the pattern in many other nations, where ground-based innovation sometimes lags behind regulation.
