To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has ever purchased (a) bitcoin, (b) other cryptocurrencies and (c) other digital assets.

HM Treasury can disclose it has not bought or held any digital assets in the UK government official reserves. The gross official reserves, held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA), are comprised of foreign currency assets (cash, bonds, and notes), gold assets and net positions of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDR).Under the EEA Act 1979, the EEA may invest in cash or securities denominated in the foreign currencies represented in the IMF SDR basket.