In a historic move that could reshape Switzerland's monetary landscape, a new federal popular initiative has been launched to amend the Swiss Constitution to include Bitcoin among the nation's official reserve assets. The initiative, formally titled "For a financially solid, sovereign and responsible Switzerland (Bitcoin Initiative)," was officially registered with the Federal Chancellery on December 5, 2024.
The Proposal
The initiative seeks to modify Article 99, paragraph 3 of the Swiss Constitution to require the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to hold Bitcoin as part of its monetary reserves, alongside gold. This would mark the first time a nation has constitutionally mandated the holding of a digital currency as a reserve asset.
The Process
The initiative committee, consisting of ten members from various regions of Switzerland, has until June 30, 2026, to collect the required signatures. Under Swiss direct democracy, federal popular initiatives need 100,000 valid signatures to force a national vote on constitutional amendments.
Strategic Implications
The campaign committee argues that Bitcoin has evolved into a crucial geopolitical asset and positions this initiative as a forward-thinking move to enhance Switzerland's economic independence. This aligns with Switzerland's historical approach to monetary policy, which has long emphasized maintaining strong reserves to ensure financial sovereignty.
Historical Context
Switzerland's current constitutional requirement to hold gold as a reserve asset reflects the nation's traditional conservative approach to monetary policy. The proposed addition of Bitcoin represents a potential bridge between this traditional approach and the emerging digital financial landscape.
What This Means
If successful, this initiative would make Switzerland the first country to constitutionally mandate Bitcoin holdings as part of its national reserves. This could have significant implications for:
- Switzerland's position in the global financial system
- The legitimacy of Bitcoin as a reserve asset
- The future of central bank reserve management globally
- Switzerland's role in the digital asset economy
How to Support the Initiative
If you are a Swiss citizen with voting rights, you can contribute to this democratic process by signing the initiative. Signature forms are available in all three major national languages:
For German-speaking citizens (Unterschreiben)
- Download the signature form in German
- Fill out your personal information carefully
- Only sign for your municipality of residence
- Return the form to: Bitcoin Volksinitiative, Postfach 521, 6440 Brunnen
Pour les citoyens francophones (Signer)
- Téléchargez le formulaire de signature en français
- Remplissez vos informations personnelles avec attention
- Signez uniquement pour votre commune de résidence
- Retournez le formulaire à: Initiative Bitcoin, Case postale 521, 6440 Brunnen
Per i cittadini di lingua italiana (Firmare)
- Scaricate il modulo di firma in italiano
- Compilate attentamente i vostri dati personali
- Firmate solo per il vostro comune di residenza
- Restituite il modulo a: Iniziativa Bitcoin, Casella postale 521, 6440 Brunnen
Important Reminders:
- Only Swiss citizens with voting rights can sign
- You can only sign once
- You must sign in your municipality of residence
- All fields must be completed by hand
- Multiple signatures from the same municipality can be on one form
Next Steps
The initiative is currently in its signature collection phase. Should it gather the required 100,000 signatures by June 2026, the proposal will proceed to a national referendum where Swiss citizens will vote on whether to amend their constitution to include this groundbreaking provision.
Looking Forward
This initiative reflects a broader global conversation about the role of digital assets in national monetary policy. Regardless of the outcome, the mere existence of this initiative demonstrates how far Bitcoin has come from its origins as an experimental digital currency to being considered as a potential constitutional reserve asset by one of the world's most important financial centers.
The world will be watching closely as Switzerland potentially takes this unprecedented step in the evolution of monetary policy and reserve asset management.