Czech Central Bank Makes Bold Move: Coinbase Added to Official Reserves

In a seismic shift for institutional crypto adoption, the Czech National Bank quietly allocated part of its reserves to Coinbase custody this week—proving even central bankers can't ignore the digital gold rush.

Old money meets new money

The move signals Prague's attempt to hedge against fiat volatility while maintaining plausible deniability ('It's just a diversification strategy!'). Sources suggest the allocation represents less than 1% of total reserves—but in crypto terms, that's enough to move markets.

Regulators play catch-up

While EU bureaucrats still debate MiCA frameworks, Eastern Europe's most hawkish central bank just executed the ultimate 'ask forgiveness later' maneuver. The purchase was reportedly made through Coinbase Institutional, avoiding messy on-chain transactions that might scare the finance ministers.

Another win for the 'if you can't beat them, custody with them' school of monetary policy. Just don't expect them to HODL through the next bear market.

Czech central bank adds Coinbase to its portfolio

The Czech central bank’s latest investment was disclosed in a FORM 13F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It revealed that it purchased 51,732 shares of Coinbase Global. At the time of the filing, those shares were worth over $18 million.

Coinbase has had a strong 2025 so far. Its stock rose more than 40% in the first half of the year, riding a wave of renewed institutional interest in digital assets and increased regulatory clarity in the U.S. that started with the long-awaited approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024.

The central bank’s filing also showed an additional 49,135 shares purchased in Palantir, a software and artificial intelligence company with ties to the U.S. military, bringing its total holdings to 519,950 shares.

The CNB’s move appears to be rooted in passive index-tracking strategies rather than speculative intent. Coinbase joined the S&P 500 in May 2025, and Palantir debuted on the index in September 2024.

Palantir and Coinbase are market up-and-comers

Central banks usually invest in highly liquid, dollar-denominated securities to diversify reserves and maintain returns in line with benchmark indices. In this case, the CNB’s purchase of Coinbase may be less about a bold bet on crypto and more about staying aligned with the U.S. stock market makeup.

Spotting Palantir and Coinbase in the CNB’s portfolio adds to the growing institutional appetite for disruptive tech sectors. Palantir has been a favorite among AI-focused investors looking to reap gains from its data analytics and government contracts. Its PLTR stock ROSE 80% in the first half of 2025, far outpacing the S&P 500’s modest 5.5% return during the same period.

Coinbase has maintained a strong institutional profile. Since its addition to the S&P 500, the company has benefited from increased ETF adoption, new exchange-traded products, and a sharp uptick in spot trading volume across Bitcoin and ethereum markets.

The CNB’s timing may prove fortunate, as Coinbase has added roughly 10% more in Q3.

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