Kategorie: Crypto News

• Lawmaker Ko Ju-Chun suggests adding Bitcoin to national reserves.
• Taiwan has 423 metric tons of gold in its asset base.
• New Hampshire in the US passed a law to include Bitcoin in state reserves.

Taiwan is considering a significant policy shift—one that could see Bitcoin join its national reserves.

Faced with inflationary pressure, global trade tension, and increasing reliance on US Treasury bonds, the country is now questioning whether its financial buffers are truly secure.

Legislator Ko Ju-Chun recently proposed the inclusion of Bitcoin in the central bank’s reserve mix, citing its decentralised nature and fixed supply as a strategic hedge against future financial instability.

The proposal reflects a broader reassessment of traditional reserve assets, especially as over 90% of Taiwan’s US$577 billion in foreign exchange reserves are currently tied to US Treasuries, raising concerns about diversification and liquidity during crises.

Rising currency risks and dependency on US Treasuries

Taiwan’s export-led economy is particularly sensitive to geopolitical shifts and inflation trends.

With growing tensions between the US and China and the risk of supply chain disruptions, lawmakers are increasingly alert to the vulnerabilities of the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD).

Currently, Taiwan holds 423 metric tons of gold and nearly all its foreign exchange in US dollar-denominated assets.

Analysts note that while these have been historically reliable, their over-concentration exposes the country to US monetary policy and potential sanctions should relations deteriorate.

In an address to parliament, Ko Ju-Chun highlighted that Taiwan needs “strategic flexibility” in how it manages its reserves, especially under scenarios of financial decoupling or restricted access to dollar markets.

Bitcoin floated as a hedge, not a replacement

The core of the proposal is not to upend Taiwan’s current reserve strategy but to diversify it.

Ko’s plan calls for allocating a small percentage of Taiwan’s reserves to Bitcoin, which he argues would provide an uncorrelated asset that is globally accessible and cannot be arbitrarily inflated.

Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million tokens, combined with its decentralised ledger system, is a key reason why it is being considered.

According to Professor Liu Yiru of National Taiwan University, these features make it particularly resistant to inflationary dilution—unlike fiat currencies, which central banks can expand during economic shocks.

Former Premier Chen Cong also weighed in, stating that although Bitcoin may not serve as a transactional currency at scale, its role as a digital store of value could help safeguard Taiwan’s financial sovereignty.

Global momentum for Bitcoin reserves

Taiwan’s deliberation comes at a time when other governments are also experimenting with Bitcoin at the state level.

In the US, New Hampshire recently passed the Bitcoin Reserve Act, allowing the inclusion of the digital asset in its state reserves.

The move has prompted discussions in other American states and emerging markets facing high inflation or currency instability.

While Taiwan has yet to formalise any such measure, the conversation signals a shift in how policymakers view crypto-assets, not merely as speculative investments but as potential components of national financial infrastructure.

In addition to legislative interest, Ko suggested that a task force be set up to study the feasibility, volatility, and custodial risks associated with Bitcoin reserves.

The central bank has not publicly responded to the proposal, though it is expected to be discussed further in upcoming budget and monetary policy reviews.

The broader context of these debates also includes Taiwan’s need to balance its strong technological sector with the risks posed by its geopolitical location.

Diversifying reserve assets may serve not only economic goals but also broader strategic autonomy.

The post Taiwan eyes Bitcoin as hedge against inflation and US Treasury exposure appeared first on CoinJournal.

• All 300+ US locations included in launch. Starbucks.
• Chipotle use fiat-converted crypto.
• Venezuela and El Salvador show mixed results.

Bitcoin is about to face one of its most practical tests yet.

American fast-food chain Steak ‘n Shake announced that it will begin accepting the world’s largest cryptocurrency at all of its US locations starting 16 May.

With more than 300 outlets and over 100 million customers annually, the rollout positions Steak ‘n Shake as a major player in the push to normalise crypto in everyday transactions.

The decision also comes at a time when mainstream retailers are under pressure to modernise payment systems.

For Bitcoin, long seen more as a store of value than a spendable currency, the partnership presents a real-world opportunity to demonstrate its utility—particularly in a low-margin, high-speed retail setting that will challenge its scalability and efficiency.

Thin margins, high volume

Fast food chains rely on speed, volume, and efficiency to remain profitable.

Unlike high-end retail, where large margins allow room to experiment with alternative payment methods, companies like Steak ‘n Shake must ensure any system change is reliable and cost-effective.

Bitcoin’s integration, therefore, becomes more than a gimmick—it is a stress test for how well the cryptocurrency can perform under retail pressure.

The announcement was teased in March with a post on X (formerly Twitter), where Steak ‘n Shake asked followers whether it should accept Bitcoin. That post drew attention from high-profile figures, including former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

The company followed up with crypto-themed marketing, including a tweet referencing Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vocal support for both Bitcoin and beef tallow.

Past attempts and pilots

The upcoming rollout differs from earlier, limited experiments by other food chains.

Starbucks enabled BTC wallet top-ups in 2021 through the Bakkt app, though the crypto was converted to dollars before reaching the till.

Chipotle began accepting over 90 cryptocurrencies in 2022, including Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana, through Flexa—again with automatic conversion to fiat currency.

Subway was one of the first fast food chains to test Bitcoin payments back in 2013 at select franchises.

Although some stores in crypto-forward cities later revived the initiative, there was no national implementation.

Global rollouts and legal tender

Outside the US, crypto adoption in food retail has typically responded to local economic pressures.

In Venezuela, Burger King briefly accepted Bitcoin and other digital assets in 2020 via a partnership with Latin American platform Cryptobuyer.

However, this was limited in scope and short-lived.

El Salvador went further by declaring Bitcoin legal tender in 2021.

Major brands like Pizza Hut and Starbucks quickly offered crypto payments in the country.

Despite the fanfare, national usage has remained low, with some reports citing infrastructure gaps and inconsistent user experiences.

Native crypto or fiat?

Steak ‘n Shake has yet to confirm whether it will process Bitcoin natively or convert it to fiat at checkout.

Previous retail integrations have mostly favoured instant conversion tools to manage volatility.

The answer could define whether this rollout represents genuine on-chain adoption or simply another workaround.

If the rollout succeeds, it could prompt other national chains to reassess crypto payments.

If it fails, it may reinforce doubts about Bitcoin’s use in everyday commerce.

The post Steak ‘n Shake to start accepting Bitcoin at over 300 outlets in US from May 16 appeared first on CoinJournal.