The co-founder and former CEO of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), has proposed Bitcoin and BNB as potential reserve assets for Kyrgyzstan’s national treasury.
In a May 5 post on X, Zhao said he had advised the Kyrgyz government to consider Bitcoin and BNB as the foundation of its crypto reserves, offering a degree of diversification beyond the strategic Bitcoin reserves being assessed by the United States.
The comment follows his announcement last month that he is now an official adviser to Kyrgyzstan’s National Investment Agency (NIA), guiding the Central Asian country when it comes to the crypto space.
The suggestion comes as Binance and Kyrgyzstan deepen their collaboration. On May 4, the NIA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Binance to launch Binance Pay in the country.
The payment system enables users to send and receive cryptocurrencies in everyday transactions. The partnership also includes plans to develop blockchain education programs through Binance Academy, aimed at training government officials and the public on digital finance.
Changpeng Zhao’s Massive BNB Holdings
Zhao’s recommendation could have an outsized influence. The former CEO of Binance is believed to be holding around 94 million BNB tokens—roughly 64% of the asset’s circulating supply—valued at more than $50 billion.
The idea of a national treasury holding an asset controlled mainly by a single individual may raise governance concerns. But Kyrgyz officials have not confirmed whether they will act on Zhao’s proposal.
Notably, BNB could soon see wider adoption as VanEck has recently filed a Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a BNB ETF in the country.
However, the Kyrgyz government has signaled broader intentions to integrate blockchain into its financial infrastructure. In mid-April, President Sadyr Zhaparov signed legislation authorizing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot, granting legal status to a digital version of the national currency.
The country is reportedly preparing to issue a gold-backed stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar and supported by $500 million worth of gold held by the Ministry of Finance.
