• The AfD party is urging Germany to treat Bitcoin as a strategic national asset.
• The AfD Bitcoin reserve motion seeks MiCA exemption and clear, favorable tax rules.
• AfD is pushing Bitcoin as “state-free money” to boost sovereignty.

Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has put forward a parliamentary motion urging the government to recognize Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

The short, forceful proposal argues Bitcoin deserves distinct treatment from other crypto-assets and calls for tax and regulatory relief to bolster innovation and national sovereignty.

The Bitcoin strategic reserve motion by AfD

The AfD motion urges lawmakers to treat Bitcoin differently from tokens and stablecoins covered by the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

It argues Bitcoin’s decentralised design and fixed supply make it a unique form of digital value that should not be shoehorned into rules intended for centrally issued crypto instruments.

The party explicitly proposes that the government consider accumulating Bitcoin within national reserves as a hedge against inflation and currency volatility.

A central demand in the motion is tax certainty.

AfD lawmakers want to preserve the existing 12-month holding exemption for private capital gains and maintain Bitcoin’s exemption from VAT.

They also call for private mining and running Lightning Network nodes to be clearly classified as non-commercial activities, reducing administrative burdens for individual participants.

The motion stresses the right to self-custody and warns that legal uncertainty deters long-term private investment.

AfD frames the proposal as part of a broader defence of digital sovereignty.

The party opposes a European digital euro and portrays Bitcoin as “state-free money” that can protect liberties and reduce dependence on centrally issued currency instruments.

The motion arrives amid debate over Germany’s decision in mid-2024 to sell nearly 50,000 BTC seized from criminal proceedings — an action AfD and others now characterise as a policy mistake given subsequent price movements.

The proposal argues that heavy-handed national implementation of MiCA risks capital flight and diminishes Germany’s standing in blockchain innovation.

AfD lawmakers say excessive rules will push firms and talent to friendlier jurisdictions, eroding competitiveness in a field with rapidly evolving technology and commercial models.

AfD also highlights potential synergies between Bitcoin and energy policy.

The motion suggests that productive uses of excess renewable supply — including mining — could create a technological and economic fit between Germany’s energy transition and the Bitcoin network.

The party frames state accumulation of Bitcoin as a prudent diversification of reserve assets, drawing parallels to moves and proposals in other European countries that have discussed or adopted similar approaches.

Beyond urging a strategic statement from the federal government, the motion seeks concrete commitments: keep tax advantages intact, exempt certain private operations from commercial classification, enshrine self-custody rights, and open study of Bitcoin’s role in reserves and energy integration.

AfD wants the Bundestag to formally recognise Bitcoin’s distinct status and to restrain national rule-making that would extend MiCA beyond its intended scope.

The reaction from the public

Supporters in crypto circles welcomed the proposal as a sign that mainstream political debate is shifting away from dismissive tropes about digital currencies.

Critics, however, worry the plan could politicise reserve policy or clash with EU regulatory intent.

Observers note that Germany occupies an outsized spot in Europe’s economy, so any move to treat Bitcoin strategically would reverberate across markets and policy debates.

As Bundestag review AfD’s motions and the larger question of how national policy should sit alongside EU rules, whether the proposal gains traction depends on cross-party calculation about economic benefits, sovereign risk, and regulatory coherence.

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• Crypto firms offering financial products must obtain an AFSL by 30 June.
• Bitcoin and NFTs are said to be excluded from the financial product category.
• The Treasury has finished consultations on new crypto legislation.

Australia has tightened its regulatory framework for digital assets, introducing updated guidelines that define how crypto service providers will be classified and licensed.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced revisions to its Information Sheet 225.

Firms offering services tied to financial products will now need to apply for an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) and join the Australian Financial Complaints Authority by June 30.

The updated document aims to streamline compliance requirements, strengthen investor protection, and bring digital asset providers under the same regulatory standards as traditional financial institutions.

This marks a significant shift in Australia’s approach to overseeing crypto-related businesses and ensuring greater market transparency.

The move aims to bring greater oversight to the rapidly evolving crypto industry while maintaining flexibility for tokens like Bitcoin, which will not be treated as financial products under the new guidance.

Bitcoin excluded, but stablecoins under scrutiny

Under the revised guidelines, ASIC clarified that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, gaming non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and tokenised event tickets do not fall under the financial product category.

However, stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities, and yield-bearing products like staking services and tokenised real estate will require licensing.

ASIC also confirmed in-principle regulatory relief for stablecoin and wrapped token distributors to help transition into compliance ahead of broader legislative reforms.

The updated framework outlines that services offering financial returns or lock-up periods will be classified as financial products, ensuring investors in yield-based assets are protected under existing finance laws.

Industry welcomes clarity but warns of implementation challenges

The update has been broadly welcomed across the blockchain sector for providing long-awaited clarity.

Industry groups and legal experts said the move provides visibility on ASIC’s approach to regulating the digital asset ecosystem.

However, they warned that the transition could create logistical hurdles due to limited local expertise, banking restrictions, and insurance access.

Blockchain APAC’s CEO noted that ASIC’s approach of implementing policy ahead of final legislation brings short-term certainty but also leaves room for interpretation.

These “structural bottlenecks,” including resource and compliance constraints, could shift risks from legal to operational levels if not addressed promptly.

Transition underway as crypto firms prepare for licensing

Industry players are now restructuring their operations to align with the new rules.

The Digital Economy Council of Australia called the update a significant step toward mainstream regulation but expressed concern about ASIC’s capacity to process a large volume of licensing applications in time.

The move follows the Albanese government’s proposal in March for a unified framework that places crypto exchanges under existing financial services laws.

The Treasury concluded consultations last week on draft legislation that would formalise this transition, further aligning Australia’s crypto oversight with global regulatory trends.

The update marks a turning point for Australia’s digital asset market, setting a roadmap for compliance while signalling the government’s intention to balance innovation with investor protection.

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