Missouri lawmakers revive Bitcoin reserve bill — why this time is different

Missouri lawmakers have revived an attempt to formalise Bitcoin as a reserve asset in the state following the failure of a similar bill last year.

If successful, House Bill 2080 will establish a Bitcoin strategic reserve fund in the Missouri state treasury, authorising the state to accept gifts, donations, and bequests of Bitcoin from Missouri residents or governmental entities, and potentially invest in cryptocurrency using state funds.

Ben Keathley, a Republican representative for Missouri, introduced the bill’s predecessor in February 2025.

Although it received a public hearing in March, it did not secure a committee vote and ultimately died when the session ended in May — a common fate for bills that lack sufficient support, momentum, or priority among committee members.

The new version contains key differences.

This time, the bill has been assigned to the House Commerce Committee instead of a special committee focused on intergovernmental affairs, potentially improving its chances of advancement.

Language in the bill has also been modified to place greater emphasis on voluntary donations being the primary funding mechanism, prohibit transactions with foreign entities or those involved in illegal activities, and define key terms like “Bitcoin,” “cold storage,” and “custody” more comprehensively.

More Bitcoin reserves

Since US President Donald Trump entered office in January last year, there have been several attempts to legitimise Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies by establishing them as reserve assets.

In March, Trump signed an executive order to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve and a US digital asset stockpile composed of crypto already seized by US law enforcement.

Several US states have attempted to follow Trump’s lead and establish their own Bitcoin reserves.

In May, New Hampshire became the first state to do so, authorising its state treasurer to allocate up to 10% of state funds into digital assets or precious metals with a market value of over $500 billion.

Since then, several other states, including Arizona and Texas, have also established similar reserves.

Assets placed in the proposed Missouri Bitcoin reserve would be subject to a mandatory five-year holding period, during which they cannot be sold, transferred, or converted.

The treasurer would be authorised to contract with US-based crypto firms to assist with security and administration of the reserve, and would be required to publish a biennial public report detailing the fund’s holdings and activity.

Whether the bill will fare better this time around compared to last year remains to be seen.

Tim Craig is DL News’ Edinburgh-based DeFi Correspondent. Reach out with tips at tim@dlnews.com.