Germany's Parliament to Review Motion on Bitcoin's Strategic Recognition

According to Cointelegraph, Germany's Bundestag is set to review a motion from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, urging the government to recognize Bitcoin as a unique digital asset deserving strategic consideration. The motion, filed on October 23, challenges the overregulation of Bitcoin under the European Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The AfD argues that Bitcoin is fundamentally different from other cryptocurrencies and should not be subjected to the same regulatory measures. The motion highlights concerns that excessive regulation could undermine Germany's innovative capacity, financial freedom, and digital sovereignty. The AfD's motion emphasizes the strategic importance of Bitcoin, suggesting that the German government has yet to acknowledge its potential role in national reserves and energy integration. The party notes that while the current tax treatment of Bitcoin is favorable, ongoing legal uncertainties deter private long-term investments. The motion advocates for maintaining the 12-month holding period for tax-exempt gains, preserving Bitcoin's VAT exemption, and ensuring individuals' rights to self-custody. By submitting this motion, the AfD adds Germany to the list of EU countries exploring Bitcoin reserves and advocating for relaxed MiCA regulations. The motion comes amid similar initiatives in other European countries. On October 22, Éric Ciotti of France's Union of the Right for the Republic led a motion urging the French government to ease MiCA regulations to promote stablecoins while banning central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Despite these calls for regulatory relaxation, not everyone agrees that MiCA has hindered crypto adoption in Europe. Implemented fully in late 2024, MiCA has positioned Germany as a preferred destination for crypto-native firms, according to Chainalysis, a U.S. blockchain analytics company. Chainalysis's latest report ranks Germany as the third-largest country in Europe by total crypto value received, indicating a strong crypto market presence despite regulatory challenges.