Polish Minister Sławomir Mentzen Advocates for Bitcoin Strategic Reserve and Crypto-Friendly Policies

Polish politician and presidential candidate Sławomir Mentzen has promised to create a Bitcoin reserve and make Poland more crypto-friendly if elected in 2025. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on November 17, Mentzen doubled down on his earlier remarks in support of adopting a national Bitcoin reserve, aligning with a proposal from Lech Wilczynski, CEO of Swap.ly.

Wilczynski had proposed that Poland follow the Satoshi Action Fund’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve model, an open-source framework that encourages countries to build national reserves of Bitcoin. He stressed that “there is no point in waiting” and urged the Polish government to take action before it’s too late, suggesting that the draft bill for such a reserve should be introduced as soon as possible.

In response, Mentzen expressed his full support, stating “of course,” and expanded on his vision for Poland to become a “cryptocurrency haven.” He outlined plans for supportive regulations, lower taxes, and cooperation from banks and regulators, all aimed at fostering a more crypto-friendly environment. Mentzen added a bold remark: “BTC to the Moon.”

A Vision for Bitcoin in Poland

Mentzen’s support for Bitcoin is not new. Reflecting on his 2018 mayoral campaign in Toruń, he reminded followers of his proposal to use municipal offices and schools for Bitcoin mining, repurposing the excess heat for building heating. At the time, Bitcoin was valued around $7,000, and the idea was ridiculed as absurd. However, with Bitcoin now nearing $100,000, Mentzen sees his proposal as ahead of its time.

Building on this forward-thinking approach, Mentzen called for Poland to diversify its currency reserves to include Bitcoin. While acknowledging that this idea may seem unconventional now, he suggested that it could become a standard practice in the future.

“It is high time for Polish politicians to also look to the future and not just deal with the past,” Mentzen said. “We do not have to imitate others forever. We can finally set new directions ourselves and be role models for others. Poles deserve a modern state.”

A Global Trend: Bitcoin Reserves

Mentzen’s comments echo a similar proposal made by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump during his July 2024 campaign, where he promised to create a Bitcoin reserve in the United States. Following this, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced a bill to acquire one million Bitcoin over the next five years, suggesting a significant government-backed push toward building national Bitcoin reserves.

Experts have speculated that if the U.S. moves forward with such a plan, it could trigger a “Bitcoin arms race” among sovereign nations, with more countries seeking to accumulate Bitcoin as part of their national reserves. Others, like Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy, believe that large-scale government purchases could significantly increase demand for Bitcoin, further boosting its value.

As Poland looks ahead to the 2025 elections, Mentzen’s proposals for Bitcoin and broader crypto-friendly policies may place him at the forefront of a global trend toward state-backed Bitcoin reserves. His vision for Poland to set new directions in the cryptocurrency space could serve as a model for other nations to follow in the coming years.