Isabella García
The Czech National Bank (CNB) has made its first-ever foray into crypto-related equities by acquiring $18.1 million worth of Coinbase shares during the second quarter of 2025, signaling a growing interest in the digital asset space from the European nation’s central financial authority.
According to a recent 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the CNB disclosed the purchase of 51,732 shares of Coinbase Global (COIN). As of the end of June, the shares were valued at $18.1 million, though they have since increased to approximately $20 million based on Friday’s closing price.
First-Ever Coinbase Allocation by CNB
This marks the first time the Czech central bank has held a stake in Coinbase, as no such holdings appeared in its previous filings. The move suggests a strategic shift toward gaining indirect exposure to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Coinbase shares closed at $387.06 on Friday, experiencing a modest decline of 0.49%, but the stock remains up 55.88% year-to-date, according to Yahoo Finance.
Broader Crypto Strategy May Be Underway
Earlier this year, the CNB signaled growing openness to crypto assets, with Governor Aleš Michl confirming that the bank was considering allocating a portion of its foreign reserves to alternative assets such as bitcoin. In a January statement, Michl said the central bank could potentially allocate up to 5% of its €140 billion ($163.5 billion) reserve portfolio into Bitcoin—pending board approval.
“We want to diversify our holdings, and that includes exploring innovative asset classes like crypto,” Michl told the Financial Times.
A Measured Step Into the Crypto Space
Rather than jumping directly into purchasing digital currencies, the CNB appears to be testing the waters through regulated financial instruments—a move that aligns with strategies seen in other cautious but forward-looking central banks globally.
With this purchase, the Czech Republic becomes one of the first European countries to reveal direct holdings in a publicly traded crypto exchange, reinforcing a trend of institutional crypto adoption via traditional equity markets.
