- Ohio proposed a state-managed Bitcoin fund to diversify and protect public funds from inflation.
- Texas and Pennsylvania are also pursuing Bitcoin reserves for financial stability and strategic investments.
Ohio has taken a major move toward incorporating Bitcoin into its banking system, with Representative Derek Merrin recently drafting House Bill 703. Designed to create a state-managed Bitcoin fund to offset inflation and diversify the state’s financial portfolio, this proposed law is called the Ohio Bitcoin Reserve Act.
Merrin claims that the volatility of the U.S. currency has underlined the need for creative ideas and that Bitcoin offers a chance to guard public money from losing worth. Should this measure be approved, other governments may follow suit, therefore embedding cryptocurrency even further into public financial management.
OHIO'S GONNA STACK SOME BITCOIN?
Derek Merrin just dropped a bill to set up a state-backed bitcoin reserve—it’s all about keeping the state’s cash safe from inflation and diversifying into the future.
With Trump back in the game, the push for a national bitcoin reserve is… pic.twitter.com/J9IkHgqJtt
— Mario Nawfal’s Roundtable (@RoundtableSpace) December 18, 2024
Growing State and National Interest in Bitcoin Reserves
Ohio is not the only state pushing for a Bitcoin reserve sponsored by its government. Other states, including Texas and Pennsylvania, are also investigating similar projects all throughout the United States.
Establishing confidence in the long-term value of the digital commodity, the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve would enable Texas to store Bitcoin gathered from taxes, fees, and donations for protracted periods.
Pennsylvania’s proposal, in the meantime, offers a buffer against economic unpredictability by seeking to invest up to 10% of its treasury money into Bitcoin.
Momentum is gathering at the national level too. The revived political presence of former President Donald Trump has elevated debates of a national Bitcoin reserve to the front stage.
Under five years, a plan by Senator Cynthia Lummis proposes that the U.S. government might acquire a sizable Bitcoin reserve possibly totaling one million BTC. Proponents contend this would not only make the United States a leader in the cryptocurrency field but also offer a strategic benefit in terms of national debt handling.
Earlier in October, CNF reported that Ohio would bring back its 2018 crypto-friendly program, which let taxes be paid with cryptocurrencies. A separate measure proposed by Senator Antani seeks to resurrect this approach and let pension boards and state colleges engage in cryptocurrency.
