Missouri lawmakers push Bitcoin strategic reserve bill forward

Missouri lawmakers revived a plan to create a state cryptocurrency reserve, advancing House Bill 2080 to the House Commerce Committee for review. The measure, first introduced in January by Rep. Ben Keathley, would authorize the state treasurer to invest, purchase, and hold a digital asset using state funds. It proposes a five-year holding period for the asset, after which it could be transferred, sold, or converted to another token. The bill also contemplates accepting gifts and donations from residents or government entities to help fund the reserve, and it would bar transactions with foreign countries or entities outside Missouri. The latest step in the process occurred on Feb. 19, when the bill was referred for committee consideration, after which a public hearing, a committee vote, and potential revisions could shape its path toward a full House vote.

Key takeaways

• The proposed bill would empower the state treasurer to invest, purchase, and hold a cryptocurrency with state funds, with a five-year retention window before disposal or conversion.
• Gifts, grants, and donations from Missouri residents or government entities could help fund the reserve, expanding the capital base behind the program.
• Authorized partnerships would allow government entities to accept crypto payments for taxes, fees, fines, and other obligations, subject to Department of Revenue approval.
• Public hearings and committee votes are pending; the bill carries an Aug. 28 proposed effective date if enacted, with a legislative journey that could culminate in a Senate review and a governor’s signature or veto.
• A previous iteration—HB1217—died in committee last year, illustrating continued interest but also persistent procedural hurdles for state-level crypto reserves.
• Analysts have suggested that strategic state reserves could influence demand for the asset; industry observers have cited potential demand scenarios in the billions if such programs advance.

Tickers mentioned: $BTC

Market context: The Missouri effort arrives as U.S. state-level discussions around cryptocurrency reserves and digital-asset governance gain renewed attention amid ongoing debates over regulation, custody, and fiscal risk management. While some lawmakers view a state-backed reserve as a hedge against inflation and a way to diversify treasury holdings, others warn of volatility, compliance complexity, and political scrutiny that could complicate implementation.

Why it matters

The bill’s core premise—allowing a state treasurer to hold and manage a digital asset as part of a dedicated reserve—marks a notable shift in how public funds might interact with cryptocurrencies. If enacted, Missouri would join a small but growing set of states exploring structured exposure to digital assets, potentially paving the way for other jurisdictions to model governance, custody, and disclosure practices around treasury participation in the asset class. The five-year holding window introduces a defined horizon for risk management, but it also raises questions about liquidity, price volatility, and the opportunity costs of tying funds to an asset with rapid price swings.

Funding the reserve through gifts and donations adds a philanthropic or crowdsourced dimension to the program, potentially increasing community buy-in and anchoring the reserve in state financial planning. Yet this mechanism also invites scrutiny about governance, accountability, and the risk of donor-driven decision-making influencing treasury policy. The bill’s acceptance of crypto by government entities for tax and fee payments, pending regulatory approval, would constitute a concrete use case that could normalize digital-asset transactions within public interfaces. If adopted, such acceptance would require robust infrastructure for secure custody, real-time valuation, and tax accounting—areas where state-level policymakers would rely on existing regulators and industry participants to establish standards.

The prior attempt to authorize a crypto reserve in Missouri—HB1217—failed to advance beyond the committee stage, underscoring the procedural challenges that accompany any state-level crypto initiative. Even with renewed momentum, any passage would demand alignment across chambers and the governor’s office, amid concerns about fiscal impact, risk controls, and political sentiment surrounding digital assets. Industry observers, including VanEck, have suggested that strategic reserves at the state level could drive substantial demand for the asset if implemented broadly, though those projections hinge on clear governance, transparent accounting, and long-term policy clarity. The current move in Missouri signals ongoing legislative curiosity about how public funds might participate in this evolving financial landscape, while highlighting the careful balancing act between potential strategic benefits and risk management obligations.

The bill’s timing also matters in the broader macro context. As institutional and retail interest in cryptocurrencies intensifies, lawmakers are weighing whether public treasuries should diversify into digital assets in a controlled, custodial manner. Critics argue that public exposure to a highly volatile asset could unsettle balance sheets if not matched with rigorous oversight, independent audits, and well-defined risk thresholds. Supporters counter that, when properly governed, a state reserve could provide diversification, liquidity options, and a signal to the market about a state’s forward-thinking approach to digital finance. The Missouri proposal thus sits at the intersection of treasury policy, regulatory clarity, and the practical realities of custody and compliance in the digital-asset era.

As the bill advances, observers will monitor how the Department of Revenue would regulate crypto acceptance in public transactions, how the treasury would establish custody and liquidity strategies, and what trigger points would prompt rebalancing or liquidation of holdings. The outcome could influence not only Missouri’s fiscal planning but also the broader dialogue on whether and how state governments participate in the evolving digital economy. While the technical specifics—five-year holds, cross-border restrictions, and governance around donations—provide a blueprint for prudent risk management, the successful deployment of such a program would depend on clear legislative language, robust technology infrastructure, and sustained oversight that can earn public trust in an asset class that remains remote from traditional financial systems for many constituents.

What to watch next

• Public hearing schedule for HB2080 in the House Commerce Committee and any proposed amendments.
• Committee votes and potential changes before the bill returns to the House floor for debate and a final vote.
• Senate review, including committee consideration, floor debate, and any companion legislation or amendments.
• Governor Kehoe’s decision to sign or veto if the bill clears both chambers.
• Any update on the proposed Aug. 28 effective date and how the state would implement custody and acceptance of crypto for payments.

Sources & verification

Missouri moves to experiment with a state cryptocurrency reserve

Missouri’s renewed push to create a state-level cryptocurrency reserve centers on empowering the state treasurer to invest, purchase, and hold a digital asset using state funds. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is the asset most closely associated with the proposal, and the legislation explicitly contemplates a five-year holding period before disposal or conversion to another token. Introduced in January by Representative Ben Keathley, HB2080 would authorize not only the core custodial powers but also an avenue to fund the reserve through gifts and donations, and a mechanism for state entities to accept crypto for taxes and other payments, subject to regulatory approval.

The process moved to the House Commerce Committee on February 19, with the committee tasked with holding a public hearing, conducting a vote, and potentially drafting changes before sending the bill back to the House for debate and a final floor vote. If the bill advances beyond the House, it would proceed to the Senate for consideration, where additional amendments could be added, followed by the governor’s signature or veto. An Aug. 28 effective date has been proposed in the bill, providing a timeline for deployment and governance development should it pass.

In contrast to the current momentum, a similar measure in the previous legislative cycle—HB1217—failed to progress after a public hearing in March 2025 and ultimately did not receive a committee vote to move forward. The reevaluation of a state crypto reserve suggests persistent interest among Missouri lawmakers to explore how digital assets could be integrated into public funds, while also underscoring the friction that often accompanies such policy innovations.

Industry observers, including VanEck, have suggested that strategic state reserves could generate meaningful demand for the asset if adopted broadly. The exact financial impact remains contingent on governance standards, custody arrangements, and transparent reporting that can withstand legislative and public scrutiny. The Missouri effort—and others like it—reflects a broader trend in which states evaluate the feasibility, risks, and benefits of sanctioned exposure to digital assets as part of diversified treasury management. Stakeholders will be watching how the administration negotiates regulatory compliance, risk controls, and operational readiness to translate policy intent into a functioning, accountable program.