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Ahmed Balaha
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Missouri lawmakers advanced House Bill 2080 to the House Commerce Committee on February 19, taking a significant step toward establishing a state-run Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund.
Sponsored by Representative Ben Keathley, the legislation mandates a five-year holding period for digital assets and positions Missouri alongside other Republican-led states aggressively integrating cryptocurrency into public finance.
Key Takeaways
- HB 2080 authorizes the State Treasurer to custody Bitcoin for a minimum of five years.
- The fund relies exclusively on private gifts and grants, prohibiting taxpayer funding for purchases.
- Missouri joins Arizona and Texas in competing to formalize state-level digital asset reserves.
Missouri Legislation Revives Crypto Treasury Push
HB 2080 would amend Chapter 30 of Missouri law to allow the State Treasurer to receive and hold Bitcoin. This is Representative Ben Keathley’s second try after a similar bill failed in March 2025. Now it has been perfected and sent to the House Commerce Committee, showing the issue is back on the agenda.
The timing is interesting. While Missouri is pushing a long term Bitcoin reserve, recent data shows spot Bitcoin ETFs have logged multiple weeks of outflows, hinting that short term institutional demand has cooled.
If approved, the reserve would go live by August 28, 2026. Supporters frame it as a hedge against federal inflation, focusing on long term strategy rather than daily price swings.
Strict Holding Periods and Funding Mechanics
The bill is clear on one thing. Any donated Bitcoin must be held for at least five years before it can be sold or transferred.
The Treasurer would have to use cold storage, keeping private keys offline to reduce security risks.
There is also a transparency layer. The state must publish reports every two years covering fund activity, security audits, and transactions.
State Policy Joins Federal Momentum
Missouri is not acting alone. Several states are racing to position themselves as crypto friendly hubs. By creating a legal path to hold Bitcoin, lawmakers hope to attract talent and capital.
The broader regulatory backdrop is also shifting. Federal discussions around clearer crypto rules are gaining momentum, which could make state level reserves easier to expand in the future.
Right now, the bill only allows donation based accumulation. But it sets a precedent. If federal clarity improves, that framework could grow.
If HB 2080 passes, Missouri becomes an early test case for putting decentralized assets inside a state treasury system.
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