"Introduce Bitcoin into Ireland's national reserves" proposes former UFC champion Conor McGregor.

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Key points of this article

• Former UFC champion McGregor announces his candidacy for the presidency of Ireland
• He proposed the introduction of Bitcoin into the national reserve.
• Bitcoin evangelist Max Keiser also supports
• The introduction of national reserves of BTC is accelerating in various countries around the world.

Table of Contents* 1. Mr. McGregor Advocates for National Transformation with Bitcoin

• 2. The Aim of the Irish Version of Bitcoin National Reserves

• 2.1. Mr. McGregor talks about the Bitcoin nation concept
• 2.2. Challenges in the Political Situation of Ireland
• 2.3. Mr. McGregor Contacts Cryptocurrency Supporters

• 3. Mr. McGregor's Political Challenges and Experience in the Cryptocurrency Business
• 4. The Movement of "Bitcoin National Reserves" Spreading Across Countries
• 5. The Bitcoin National Reserve Initiative that the World is Watching

• 5.1. Bitcoin advocates react to Mr. McGregor's proposal
• 5.2. Challenges Facing Bitcoin as a National Reserve

Mr. McGregor Advocates for National Transformation with Bitcoin

Former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor from Ireland proposed a national Bitcoin (BTC) reserve plan on May 10, 2025, in relation to his political ambitions.

Mr. McGregor announced his candidacy for the Irish presidential election as an independent candidate in March this year, and as part of his election campaign, he is calling for the establishment of a Bitcoin strategy reserve on his official X (Twitter) account.

In a post on the 10th of this month, he asserted that "Ireland can regain economic control for its citizens by advancing strategic reserves of Bitcoin."

Crypto in its origin was founded to give power back to the people.

An Irish Bitcoin strategic reserve will give power to the people’s money.

I will be cohosting a Twitter space to talk about what I want to see changed.

Victory to Ireland! 🇮🇪

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 9, 2025

Cryptocurrencies were originally created to empower people.

"Ireland Bitcoin Strategic Reserve" empowers people's money.

I will co-host in X space to talk about the changes I desire.

Victory to Ireland!🇮🇪

This message has been viewed over 500,000 times within a few hours of posting, attracting significant attention both domestically and internationally. Mr. McGregor is expected to hold a live broadcast (space) on X soon, where he will discuss the details of this initiative and general policies.

This call has been responded to by prominent U.S. podcaster Anthony Pompliano and other industry experts, with McGregor stating, "We need the best minds. If you send me a message, we can talk in the space," thus starting a dialogue with Bitcoin supporters.

The Aim of Ireland's Bitcoin National Reserve

Mr. McGregor talks about the Bitcoin national project

The background of the Bitcoin National Reserve concept lies in distrust of the centralized financial system and Mr. McGregor's philosophy of restoring economic sovereignty to the people.

He stated that "cryptocurrency was born to empower people," and in Ireland, which uses the euro under the management of the European Central Bank (ECB), there is an aim to "strengthen the economic power of the citizens" by holding Bitcoin as a reserve asset in their own country.

Although Mr. McGregor has not indicated a plan to make Bitcoin a legal currency, he aims to improve the lives of citizens by holding Bitcoin as a national reserve asset to combat inflation and stabilize finances.

Bitcoin has a fixed issuance limit of 21 million coins and operates as a decentralized system that is not managed by central authorities such as governments or banks. As a result, its supporters argue that it serves as an alternative to currencies issued by central banks, acting as a "means of asset storage in the digital age."

Mr. McGregor's proposal also aims to utilize these characteristics of Bitcoin in national strategy to "restore wealth and financial control to the citizens."

However, there are indications that the hurdles to realizing this concept are very high. Ireland is a member of the EU and uses the euro as its currency, so for the state to hold Bitcoin as a reserve asset, it needs to align with the regulations of the European Central Bank (ECB) and EU financial regulations.

Challenges in the political situation of Ireland

The presidency of Ireland is primarily a ceremonial role, and since the authority to make decisions on monetary policy lies with the government, parliament, and central bank, it is believed that even if Mr. McGregor is elected, it would be difficult for him to unilaterally change the national reserve policy.

Additionally, since Mr. McGregor is an independent candidate without the support of major political parties, cooperation from both the ruling and opposition parties, as well as legislation in Congress, will be necessary to realize the Bitcoin reserve plan.

Political experts in the region have also expressed a cold view, stating that it is an "idea lacking feasibility," and in fact, prominent politicians in the country uniformly evaluate Mr. McGregor's announcement of candidacy negatively.

In terms of garnering support, such bold Bitcoin promotion policies may be difficult to appeal widely to the general electorate, except for some fervent cryptocurrency supporters.

Mr. McGregor contacts cryptocurrency supporters

Nevertheless, it is believed that Mr. McGregor boldly advocates for a Bitcoin national reserve to leverage his international fame and challenge traditional politics.

Mr. McGregor is actively building networks with leaders in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, leveraging the communication skills and influence he has developed in the martial arts world.

In this proposal, we are actively seeking cooperation from prominent U.S. cryptocurrency (digital asset) investors such as Anthony Pompliano and David Bailey, who served as a cryptocurrency policy advisor to President Trump, asking them "please share your opinions."

These movements suggest an attitude of incorporating knowledge from not only the domestic but also the international cryptocurrency community to concretize plans.

Mr. McGregor himself emphasizes patriotism by stating "Victory to Ireland!" and is seen as having the intention to attract voter interest by presenting the Bitcoin strategy reserve concept as an economic policy for strengthening national power.

This message positioning Bitcoin as a "currency for the common people" resonates with the backlash against existing political elites and criticism of the establishment, and is seen as a strategy to garner support from grassroots conservatives by combining it with policies such as immigration issues.

Mr. McGregor's Political Challenges and Experience in the Cryptocurrency Business

Responses to Mr. McGregor's proposal for a national Bitcoin reserve vary, but skeptical voices are growing stronger within the political arena in Ireland.

He was recently found guilty in a civil trial regarding a sexual assault case in Dublin in 2018 (he is currently appealing), and in the past, he has also been the subject of police investigations due to discriminatory remarks.

It is also true that there are doubts about the credibility of politicians due to such backgrounds.

Some media outlets have expressed the view that this is "just a publicity stunt," and have commented that the proposal for a national Bitcoin reserve may not be more than a ploy for popularity. However, on the other hand, there is also an appreciation for the fact that international celebrities like Mr. McGregor have directly raised the issue of cryptocurrency as a public policy topic, which is seen as groundbreaking.

The entry of the individual into the political arena is expected to attract the interest of the general public in the Bitcoin national strategy, which had previously only been discussed among experts and enthusiasts, and to stimulate discussions around "the future of digital assets and the nation."

In April 2025, a pre-sale of the game-related token "REAL," for which he serves as an ambassador, was conducted. However, only about $392,000 (approximately ¥530 million) was raised against a target amount of $1 million (approximately ¥1.35 billion), resulting in a full refund to the investors.

The failure to gather sufficient funds even with the outstanding recognition of Mr. McGregor clearly demonstrates the challenges of cryptocurrency projects. It is believed that the lessons learned from this will lead to a more cautious approach in incorporating expert opinions in the current Bitcoin national reserve proposal.

The Movement of "Bitcoin National Reserves" Spreading Across the World

Countries around the world are gradually expanding efforts to incorporate national Bitcoin reserves into foreign currency reserves and national assets.

The small Himalayan country of Bhutan has revealed that its government-affiliated fund secretly holds and manages approximately 13,000 BTC (equivalent to $1.35 billion / ¥200 billion).

Although the Bhutanese government has not officially acknowledged it, records of transactions through major U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges have revealed the country's substantial holdings of Bitcoin, drawing international attention as a new avenue for managing national assets.

In Russia, it has been proposed that the lower house of parliament establish a national Bitcoin reserve by the end of 2024, and consider incorporating Bitcoin into the foreign currency reserve diversification plan by 2028. The government of the country is aiming to reduce its dependence on the dollar under economic sanctions from Western countries, and as part of this, is intensifying its focus on Bitcoin.

Furthermore, in Poland, presidential candidate Sławomir Mentzen is proposing a national Bitcoin reserve and aims to establish his country as an international hub for cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin National Reserve Concept That Attracts Global Attention

Bitcoin advocates respond to Mr. McGregor's proposal

The spread of Bitcoin national reserves, which is expanding in countries around the world, can serve as a basis to support Mr. McGregor's proposal as not just a mere idea, but as a "bold policy suggestion that captures the trend of the times."

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has shown immediate interest in Mr. McGregor's proposal, and it is reported that preparations are underway for a direct meeting during the "Bitcoin Country Summit" scheduled for June.

Max Keiser, known as a "Bitcoin evangelist" in the cryptocurrency industry, stated that "a national-level asset strategy like that of MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor could also be implemented in Ireland" and mentioned that this topic will likely be the top priority in the discussions between President Bukele and Mr. McGregor.

Mr. McGregor's proposals are not limited to discussions within Ireland, but serve as a catalyst to invigorate global discussions on the utilization of Bitcoin.

Challenges Facing Bitcoin as a National Reserve

However, there are numerous challenges to incorporating Bitcoin into national strategy, such as price volatility risks and the lack of clarity in international regulations.

As demonstrated by the case of El Salvador, a decline in the market can significantly impact national finances, and the pressure from international organizations such as the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the adverse effects on diplomatic relations cannot be overlooked.

Nevertheless, Bitcoin supporters remain optimistic, stating that "in the long term, the value will continue to rise due to scarcity with a capped supply," and there are voices expecting that the formation of a "Bitcoin version of the G7" is not just a dream, especially with influential celebrities like Mr. McGregor entering politics.

As of now, the countries that officially hold Bitcoin as a national reserve asset are limited to just a few, including the United States and Bhutan.

The challenge from Mr. McGregor, a former UFC champion with global recognition, has garnered attention worldwide on whether Ireland will join the ranks of Bitcoin nation-state holders and the new possibilities of a Bitcoin national strategy.

*The price is converted at the rate at the time of writing (1 dollar = 145.91 yen)

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Source: Mr. Conor McGregor X Post

Written and Translated by: BITTIMES Editorial Department

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