Luxembourg has become the first country in the Eurozone to invest in Bitcoin through its sovereign wealth fund, allocating 1% of its $730 million Intergenerational Sovereign Wealth Fund (FSIL) to Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Finance Minister Gilles Roth announced on Oct. 9 during the 2026 national budget presentation.
The investment marks a milestone for the nation’s financial strategy, reflecting a gradual shift toward diversified, innovation-driven asset management.
Roth said the move aligns with the FSIL’s revised framework approved in July 2025, which now permits up to 15% of its portfolio to be allocated to alternative assets, including private equity, real estate, and digital assets such as cryptocurrencies.
A eurozone first
Jonathan Westhead, head of communications at the Luxembourg Finance Agency, said the 1% allocation demonstrates the country’s confidence in the growing maturity of digital assets and sends a clear message about Bitcoin’s role in the future of finance.”
He noted that the decision to invest through Bitcoin ETFs was designed to mitigate risk while maintaining regulatory compliance under Luxembourg’s investment law, especially considering the FSIL’s standards.
The FSIL, established in 2014 to preserve national wealth for future generations, was traditionally limited to high-quality bonds and conservative assets. The July policy amendment marked a turning point, expanding the fund’s scope to include higher-yield, risk-adjusted investments that reflect global financial innovation.
Luxembourg’s allocation makes it the first EU nation to make a deliberate, policy-backed investment in Bitcoin. While other European countries, such as Finland and the UK, hold Bitcoin seized through law enforcement, Luxembourg’s approach is strategic and planned.
Globally, only a handful of countries have taken similar steps. El Salvador remains the most prominent example of a sovereign nation directly holding Bitcoin as part of its reserves. Other countries, including Bhutan, Georgia, and Norway, have also gained exposure to Bitcoin through sovereign or institutional funds.
Institutional momentum
The Luxembourg move comes amid a broader wave of institutional adoption of Bitcoin ETFs worldwide. US spot Bitcoin ETFs currently manage roughly $168 billion in net assets, representing nearly 7% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization.
Sovereign entities have followed suit. The Wisconsin Investment Board in the U.S. disclosed $321 million in holdings of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) earlier this year, while Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company revealed a $436.9 million position.
Luxembourg’s regulatory environment has also played a critical role. In July, the country’s financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), issued updated guidelines allowing virtual assets in alternative investment funds, bolstering the groundwork for the FSIL’s new investment mandate.
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