Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Footsteps in India, Home to 1.5 Billion People – Heres Everything We Know

Pradeep Bhandari, the national spokesperson of Indias ruling party, has called for the launch of a Bitcoin reserve pilot program, arguing that the country needs to make a strategic move towards Bitcoin.

According to Bhandari, the US's establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve and Bhutan's national mining initiatives present a significant window of opportunity for India.

The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, launched under the administration of US President Donald Trump in January 2025, brought digital assets to the global economic agenda. The reserve, which reached over $20 billion as of June 2025, shows that Bitcoin is increasingly positioned as a store of value.

Within the scope of the reserve, the US evaluates the approximately 200,000 BTC seized as a buffer against inflation. At the Crypto Summit held at the White House last month, it was announced that Bitcoin purchases would continue with budget-friendly methods to expand this reserve. Three states have already enacted laws allowing Bitcoin purchases with public funds. These developments reveal that Bitcoin has begun to be evaluated as a financial resistance tool.

Bhutan, which has been mining Bitcoin with hydroelectric resources since 2021, has accumulated a reserve of over $1 billion as of May 2025. This reserve helps the country finance public services and contributes to its sustainable development goals.

India is far ahead of Bhutan in terms of renewable energy capacity and has the potential to implement a similar mining model at scale, but regulatory infrastructure and institutional readiness remain a challenge.

India is currently among the countries that tax cryptocurrencies but do not regulate them clearly. India, which led the crypto working group established under the leadership of the IMF during its 2023 G20 presidency, has played an important role in the formation of global standards, but is cautious about domestic regulations.

The classification of Bitcoin as a capital asset by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) further strengthens the need for a clear legal framework in India. Regulations will both boost investor confidence and pave the way for institutional adoption.