Montana house representatives reject Bitcoin reserve bill

• Montana House has rejected the Bitcoin reserve bill.
• The Bitcoin reserve bill aimed for $50M in crypto.
• The house cited risk to taxpayer funds.

On February 22, 2025, Montana’s House of Representatives decisively voted down House Bill No. 429, a proposal that aimed to establish Bitcoin (BTC) as a state reserve asset.

The 41-59 vote marked a significant setback for advocates of integrating cryptocurrency into Montana’s financial strategy, highlighting a deep divide over the role of digital assets in public finance.

Introduced by Representative Curtis Schomer earlier in February, the bill sought to diversify the state’s investment portfolio by creating a special revenue account. This account would have allowed the state treasurer to allocate up to $50 million for investments in stablecoins, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies with a market capitalization exceeding $750 billion over the past year, a threshold currently met only by Bitcoin.

Supporters argued that such a move could yield higher returns than traditional bond investments, positioning Montana as a forward-thinking player in the evolving financial landscape.

Bitcoins Montana house representatives wary of risks involved

Despite clearing the House Business and Labor Committee on February 19 with a 12-8 vote, backed by Republicans and opposed by Democrats, the bill faced stiff resistance during its second reading in the House.

Fiscal conservatives, including many Republicans, voiced concerns over the speculative nature of Bitcoin, emphasizing the state’s duty to protect taxpayer money.

Representative Steven Kelly captured this sentiment during the House Floor Session, stating, “It’s still taxpayer money, and we’re responsible for it. We need to protect it. These types of investments are way too risky.”

Representative Jane Gillette echoed these doubts, pointing out that the bill lacked clear guidelines on how the funds would be managed, while Representative Bill Mercer warned that Bitcoin’s history of dramatic price swings made it an imprudent choice for public funds.

On the other side, advocates like Representative Lee Demming argued that embracing digital assets could safeguard Montana’s reserves against inflation and bolster long-term financial growth, a perspective shared by Bitcoin proponents nationwide.

The rejection of HB 429 effectively kills the proposal for now, requiring any future efforts to start anew in Montana’s legislature.

Bitcoins US states push for Bitcoin reserves

Montana’s decision stands in contrast to a growing trend among US states exploring Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

Approximately 24 states, including Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, and Ohio, have introduced similar legislation, with Utah’s HB230 making the most progress by allowing up to 5% of public funds to be invested in digital assets.

Nationally and globally, the push for Bitcoin reserves is gaining traction, with countries like Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, and Russia also weighing the cryptocurrency’s potential as a strategic asset.

Dennis Porter, CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund, which collaborated with Montana legislators like Schomer and Senator Daniel Zolnikov, expressed disappointment with Montana’s move but remained optimistic about the broader movement. He noted that Bitcoin’s decentralized structure and limited supply make it an attractive hedge against economic uncertainty.