At the Bitcoin Asia Conference in Hong Kong, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) delivered a statement that quickly captured global attention. He said that Bitcoin will become the world’s reserve currency.
His statement not only highlighted Asia’s growing role in crypto adoption but also shed light on how the tokenization of real-world assets could push crypto into an entirely new era.
Bitcoin Will Become the Global Reserve Currency
Speaking at the Bitcoin Asia Conference 2025 before a crowd of over 15,000 people, CZ declared with confidence that, “Bitcoin will become the global reserve currency. And Nations are adopting it.”
He explained that this is not just a guess. Governments, companies, and institutions are already moving in this direction.
In the U.S., Hong Kong, and Japan, Bitcoin ETFs are opening the doors for trillions of dollars to enter crypto. Big companies are also adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, following MicroStrategy’s example.
Looking ahead, CZ pointed to tokenized assets like treasury bills, real estate, and commodities, which are pulling billions into the crypto market. Equity markets now have access to crypto, and crypto is pulling in real-world assets, and this is fantastic.
Asia at the Center of Bitcoin Growth
CZ’s remarks carried even more weight because Asia is quickly emerging as a global crypto powerhouse. The region now makes up 43% of global crypto ownership, with Hong Kong leading the way after approving spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs and introducing supportive regulations.
Countries like Japan, Korea, India, and Singapore are also seeing rapid growth, making Asia a key player in Bitcoin’s journey toward reserve currency status.
Governments Holding Bitcoin Like Gold
What was once seen as a “digital experiment” is now turning into a national strategy. Governments worldwide hold more than 460,000 BTC, around 2.3% of the total supply.
The U.S. leads with nearly 198,000 BTC, much of it from criminal seizures, while China surprisingly holds around 190,000 BTC despite years of restrictions. El Salvador, which made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, has built a treasury worth over $1.3 billion.
Other countries, including the UAE, Bhutan, India, and Japan, are quietly adding to their reserves as well.
For CZ, Bitcoin’s path is clear: it has gone from “digital gold” to a serious contender for the world’s reserve currency.
