Sławomir Mentzen, a candidate in Poland’s May 2025 presidential elections, has pledged to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve if elected.
Following in the footsteps of Donald Trump, Mentzen positions himself as a leader in cryptocurrency adoption, a move that could reshape Poland’s economic strategy.
Sławomir Mentzen Manifesto: Bitcoin Reserve
Responding to a policy framework shared by Lech Wilczyński, CEO of crypto exchange Swap.ly, Mentzen affirmed his commitment to implementing the plan. He emphasized Bitcoin’s potential benefits for national resilience and independence from traditional financial (TradFi) systems.
“Poland should create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. If I become the President of Poland, our country will become a cryptocurrency haven, with very friendly regulations, low taxes, and a supportive approach from banks and regulators,” Mentzen shared.
Mentzen’s strategy extends beyond just adoption. By fostering a supportive environment for crypto enterprises, he aims to boost innovation and attract global investors. He highlighted his intent to transform Poland into a competitive player in the global crypto market.
The vision includes crypto-friendly regulations, reduced taxes, and cooperative engagement with banks and regulators. The aspirant also draws inspiration from the libertarian ideals often associated with cryptocurrencies. This appeals to voters who favor minimal government intervention and financial innovation.
These would set Poland on a path to becoming a global leader in digital asset innovation. Mentzen’s proposal finds favor among Poland’s growing crypto-savvy population, with Bitcoin adoption rising significantly in recent years.
With Poland’s elections scheduled for May 2025, Mentzen’s crypto-forward policies are likely to play a defining role in shaping the nation’s economic future. If successful, his leadership could herald a transformative era for Poland, placing it at the forefront of the cryptocurrency revolution in Europe.
“The first potentially in Europe, but not the last, that’s for sure,” one user on X commented.
Inspiration from Global Trends
Mentzen’s proposal resonates with a growing international interest in national Bitcoin reserves. The concept gained momentum earlier this year when US President-elect Donald Trump vowed to establish a similar reserve, triggering debates about Bitcoin’s role in national finance.
Trump’s stance inspired state-level initiatives in the US, such as Pennsylvania’s proposed Bitcoin reserve bill and Florida’s endorsement of the concept. Additionally, Senator Cynthia Lummis has advocated for Bitcoin as a national reserve asset, suggesting that selling Federal Reserve gold could fund such a transition.
Globally, interest is expanding. Hong Kong is also evaluating Bitcoin’s inclusion in its financial reserves. This points to the asset’s potential as a hedge against economic volatility. Mentzen’s initiative reflects this broader trend, leveraging Bitcoin’s scarcity and decentralized nature to position Poland as a leader in the cryptocurrency space.
While still in the campaign stage, Mentzen’s promise reflects an ambitious alignment with a broader, global shift toward cryptocurrency adoption. As other nations, including the US and Hong Kong, explore similar strategies, Poland’s potential adoption of a Bitcoin reserve could set a precedent for other mid-sized economies.
However, critics question Bitcoin’s volatility and its potential risks as a reserve asset. Notably, investor Michael Novogratz has warned that national adoption might face resistance due to an unpredictable market and political complexities.
“It’s a low probability. While the Republicans control the Senate, they don’t have close to 60 seats. I think that it would be very smart for the United States to take the Bitcoin they have and maybe add some to it… I don’t necessarily think that the dollar needs anything to back it up,” Novogratz claimed.
Polymarket odds share his point. The decentralized prediction market, which gained credibility after successfully forecasting Trump’s victory, shows a meager 31% chance of Trump establishing a US Bitcoin Reserve.
Despite the skepticism, Novogratz articulated that such a Reserve would be beneficial for Bitcoin, potentially sending BTC value to $500,000. Meanwhile, others like David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin Magazine, hold that Donald Trump could create a Bitcoin strategic reserve without Congressional approval.
“The verdict from the experts is the President has the authority to establish the SBR without Congress and implement a fairly large acquisition program (tens of billions of $). To go bigger we’ll need Congress, but we can start right away at a MicroStrategy-esque scale,” Bailey expressed.