On May 5, 2025, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), CEO of Binance, proposed a significant new use case for Binance Coin (BNB) and Bitcoin (BTC). During his recent visit to Kyrgyzstan, CZ suggested using BNB and BTC as the basis for the country’s Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve. This announcement, made after joining Kyrgyzstan’s National Crypto Committee, follows a memorandum of understanding signed on April 3 between Binance and Kyrgyzstan, focusing on cryptocurrency payments and education through Binance Academy.
Background and Proposal Details
Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian nation, has shown growing interest in cryptocurrency to enhance its financial system. CZ’s proposal aims to position BNB, Binance’s native token, and Bitcoin, often seen as digital gold, in a national reserve. This is notable, as reserves typically include fiat currencies and gold. CZ, who holds only BNB and Bitcoin in his portfolio, emphasized their importance, unable to buy BTC dips due to full investment.
Current Market Context
As of May 5, 2025, BNB trades at $595.72, and BTC at $94,257.00. CZ’s X post on May 3 compared Bitcoin’s scarcity to gold, stating, “Not against gold, but it’s not a limited supply asset” (CZ on X), highlighting his belief in crypto’s reserve potential.
Implications and Partnerships
This could boost BNB’s utility beyond trading fees, aligning with Binance’s expansion in emerging markets. The U.S., holding 200,000 Bitcoins in its reserve, provides a model, but including BNB raises debates about utility tokens in national reserves. Critics argue Bitcoin’s established role makes it more suitable, while others see risks due to crypto volatility.
