Texas lawmakers have reintroduced a invoice geared toward establishing a state-run Bitcoin reserve, this time broadening its scope to incorporate different digital belongings that meet particular standards.
The brand new laws, Senate Invoice 21 (SB 21), replaces a earlier model and introduces extra versatile funding methods.
State Senator Charles Schwertner introduced the invoice’s refiling on February 12, emphasizing its potential to place Texas on the forefront of economic innovation.
“SB 21 would make our state the primary to determine a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and drive innovation, development, and monetary freedom,” he said.
Lieutenant Governor Prioritizes Bitcoin Reserve Invoice Amongst Senate’s Prime 40 Measures
Schwertner additionally acknowledged Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for prioritizing the invoice among the many Senate’s prime 40 legislative measures.
Satoshi Motion Fund founder Dennis Porter confirmed the invoice’s significance, stating on social media that he had obtained a number of assurances from the lieutenant governor’s workplace about its excessive precedence.
MASSIVE: A invoice to create a ‘Strategic Bitcoin Reserve’ in Texas has been refiled by @DrSchwertner. I’ve been informed by the Lt. Governor’s workplace a number of occasions that this invoice is a significant precedence. pic.twitter.com/bu4qHOxOLM
— Dennis Porter (@Dennis_Porter_) February 12, 2025
The newly filed SB 21 builds upon SB 778, the same invoice launched in mid-January, however consists of key adjustments.
Whereas SB 778 strictly restricted Texas to buying and holding Bitcoin as a strategic asset, SB 21 expands the scope by permitting the state to actively purchase, promote, and handle cryptocurrency investments.
One notable provision in SB 21 permits investments in further digital belongings, supplied they’ve maintained a market capitalization of no less than $500 billion for the previous twelve months.
At the moment, solely Bitcoin meets this criterion, however the framework leaves room for future enlargement ought to different cryptocurrencies attain this threshold.
Moreover, the revised invoice shifts extra decision-making energy to monetary specialists relatively than state legislators.
In distinction, SB 778 imposed stricter oversight and funding restrictions.
Riot Platforms Vice President of Analysis Pierre Rochard praised the adjustments, calling the brand new laws “very bullish” and highlighting its elimination of the earlier $500 million annual shopping for cap, permitting the legislature to allocate funds at its discretion.
NEW: the brand new legislative textual content for the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, SB 21, could be very bullish!
It removes the annual shopping for restrict of $500 million, the legislature can acceptable as a lot because it desires to avoid wasting BTC.
Thanks to your management @LtGovTX @DrSchwertnerpic.twitter.com/ytopjHsEYE
— Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) February 12, 2025
Extra U.S. States Suggest Bitcoin Reserve Payments
Texas is one in all 19 U.S. states with proposed cryptocurrency laws.
Final week, Florida Republican Senator Joe Gruters launched a invoice proposing that the state allocate a portion of its funds to Bitcoin and different digital belongings as a hedge in opposition to inflation.
Utah Home Invoice 230 lately cleared the state’s Home of Representatives on February 6 and is now transferring to the Senate.
Utah’s invoice, launched by Consultant Jordan Teuscher, would enable the state treasurer to allocate as much as 5% of public funds into Bitcoin, stablecoins, and different high-cap digital belongings.
Arizona has additionally moved its respective payments past the Home committee stage, whereas North Carolina lately launched a measure to allow state investments in Bitcoin exchange-traded merchandise.
In the meantime, North Dakota opted in opposition to advancing the same proposal.
In one other optimistic growth, US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) noticed inflows totaling practically $5 billion in January, a robust begin that would push them towards $50 billion or extra by the top of the 12 months, based on Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan.
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