Swiss Crypto Advocates Urge Central Bank to Hedge with Bitcoin

In a Historic Move, Campaigners Seek Constitutional Reform for Bitcoin Holdings at SNB

In a bold push toward redefining national monetary policy, Swiss cryptocurrency advocates—led by Luzius Meisser, founder and board member of Bitcoin Suisse—are actively campaigning to require the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to include Bitcoin (BTC) in its official reserve holdings.

According to a detailed report by CoinGape, Meisser will present the proposal this week at the SNB’s annual general meeting in Bern, aiming to persuade stakeholders of the benefits of diversifying the bank’s nearly $1 trillion foreign currency reserve portfolio with a 1% to 2% allocation into Bitcoin.

"Politicians eventually give in to the temptation of printing money to fund their plans, but Bitcoin is a currency that cannot be inflated through deficit spending," Meisser stated, emphasizing Bitcoin’s inflation-resistant nature.

A Constitutional Referendum in the Making

The campaign, which began in December as a formal constitutional referendum initiative, seeks to legally bind the SNB to hold Bitcoin alongside gold. To qualify for a national vote, the initiative requires 100,000 verified signatures.

If successful, Switzerland would become the first country globally to mandate Bitcoin as part of central bank reserves through a constitutional amendment—a move seen as both pioneering and strategically defensive amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Strategic Diversification Beyond the Dollar and Euro

At the heart of the initiative lies growing concern over Switzerland’s current reserve exposure—with 75% held in US dollars and euros—making it vulnerable to the monetary policies of foreign governments.

Campaigners argue this configuration poses a political and inflationary risk, especially as countries expand their fiscal spending. They promote Bitcoin as a counterbalance to such risks:

“The global Bitcoin market is the most liquid and established among digital assets,” noted Yves Bennaim, a member of the Bitcoin Initiative group, highlighting its resilience and scalability. “We are not saying go all in with Bitcoin, but a small allocation can hedge against monetary and geopolitical risks.”

Zug's Crypto Leadership Sets the Tone

The proposal aligns with Switzerland’s established role as a global crypto leader. The town of Zug, known as “Crypto Valley,” has already become a model of digital currency adoption.

In fact, just recently, the Spar Supermarket in Zug made headlines for accepting Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network—signaling growing grassroots-level integration of crypto in Swiss daily life.

This grassroots-to-institutional synergy adds weight to the argument that Switzerland is uniquely positioned to become the first Western country to integrate decentralized finance at a national reserve level.

SNB Remains Cautious Despite Momentum

However, not all voices are on board. In March, SNB Chairman Martin Schlegel reiterated the bank’s cautious stance, citing:

• Volatility
• Liquidity concerns in crisis scenarios
• Technical vulnerabilities of crypto assets

“Cryptocurrencies are essentially software. And we all know that software can often have bugs and other vulnerabilities,” he warned.

Despite official reservations, the fact that Switzerland’s Federal Chancellery approved the initiative’s submission for review reflects the seriousness of the campaign and growing public curiosity.