The parliamentary opposition in Germany has intensified discussions regarding the status of Bitcoin in the country’s economic policy. The “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) party has called on the government to officially recognize Bitcoin as a strategically important asset for the state.
This is reported by Finway
Proposals for Deregulation and Taxation
- AfD lawmakers insist on deregulating Bitcoin and reducing tax pressure to stimulate innovation in the financial sector.
- The party proposes considering the possibility of replenishing the country’s foreign currency reserves with Bitcoin.
In its resolution, AfD argues that Bitcoin possesses unique properties — it is decentralized, limited in supply, and resistant to manipulation, which favorably distinguishes it from other cryptocurrencies. For this reason, lawmakers believe that Bitcoin should not fall under the European MiCAR regulation governing the crypto asset market.
Among specific demands is the preservation of the existing 12-month holding period for crypto assets, after which profits from their sale are not taxed. AfD also demands a clear definition that mining and operating Lightning Network nodes in the private sector are not considered entrepreneurial activities.
Strategic Statement and Bitcoin’s Potential
If the resolution is adopted, the government must publish a strategic statement recognizing Bitcoin as “the free money of the 21st century” and highlighting its potential for the German economy.
“The German government has yet to strategically recognize Bitcoin, for instance, as a technology for energy integration or, during periods of significant monetary instability, as an asset held in foreign currency reserves,” the statement reads.
The party warns that if the authorities ignore these initiatives, Germany may relinquish its leadership in financial technologies and lose its innovative potential.
Similar calls for the formation of Bitcoin reserves have previously been made in France. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank maintains a strict stance against including Bitcoin in reserves. The German authorities have also faced criticism for selling off approximately 50,000 BTC seized in various cases. In just a few months, losses from this decision have already reached $1.6 billion due to the rise in Bitcoin’s price.