European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has dismissed speculation that Czechia’s central bank would add Bitcoin (BTC) to its reserve assets. At a press conference on January 30, Lagarde reinforced the European Council’s stance that central bank reserves must remain “liquid, secure, and safe”, implying that Bitcoin does not meet these criteria.

Lagarde’s Response to Czech National Bank’s Diversification Strategy

The comments followed a statement from Czech National Bank (CNB) Governor Aleš Michl, who suggested that the central bank could explore diversifying its reserves. However, while the CNB board voted to consider “other asset classes”, there was no explicit mention of Bitcoin.

“I am confident that Bitcoin will not enter the reserves of banks under the European Council,” Lagarde stated, firmly dismissing the idea of adopting BTC as part of ECB-governed financial institutions.

Bitcoin Reserves and Global Interest

The topic of Bitcoin as a central bank reserve asset has gained traction in recent months, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to form a working group on digital asset stockpiles. The move has sparked interest in Bitcoin-based reserves, particularly among several U.S. states, including:

  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Illinois
  • Arizona

These states have introduced legislation or proposals modeled after the Satoshi Action Fund’s initiative to create state-level Bitcoin reserves.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong also recently suggested that global policymakers should hold BTC reserves as a hedge against inflation.

Bitcoin’s Market Performance

Despite opposition from ECB officials, Bitcoin remains on an upward trajectory. At the time of publication, BTC was trading at $105,731, marking a 3.8% increase in the past 24 hours.

While some policymakers and nations—such as El Salvador—continue to advocate for Bitcoin reserves, the ECB and major European financial institutions remain hesitant. Lagarde’s statement makes it clear that Bitcoin is unlikely to be integrated into European central bank reserves anytime soon.