Montana House of Representatives Rejects $50 Million Bitcoin Reserve Plan

• Montana’s legislature rejected House Bill 429 in a 41-59 vote.
• The bill aimed to allocate up to $50 million in public funds for digital assets, stablecoins, and metals, with Bitcoin as the top cryptocurrency.
• Critics cited risks from crypto market volatility.
• Supporters believed it could outperform traditional bonds.

Montana lawmakers have rejected HB 429, a proposal that would have allowed the state to invest in Bitcoin and other precious metals. During the latest floor session, the House voted against the bill, which would have allowed the state to hold Bitcoin as a state’s asset.

HB 429 Bitcoin Reserve Proposal And its Rejection 

The proposal aimed to establish a Bitcoin reserve for the state, this was inspired by other regions exploring cryptocurrency adoption. The goal of the proposal was to safeguard financial strength using a decentralized asset that resists inflation and central banking policies. 

It was backed by the increasing recognition of Bitcoin as a form of reliable investment, as it has gained trust from businesses and institutions. However, it failed to secure enough approval to pass into law.

The House Bill 429 was voted down by a margin of 41-59. The proposal aimed to set up a special fund that would have allowed up to $50 million to be invested in digital assets.

The bill also covered investments in stablecoins and precious metals. However, only Bitcoin qualified, as it was the only asset with a market value that exceeded $750 billion.

Representative Curtis Schomer who introduced the bill, he called it beneficial for the state treasury. He cautioned that relying only on bonds could weaken purchasing power over time and how there’s need to diversify the states reserve due to economic uncertainty and inflation. 

Supporters argued it could strengthen the state’s investments and offer better returns than bonds. Representative Lee Demming backed the idea, urging Montana to make the most of public funds. However, despite these points, the bill did not pass.

Opponents of House Bill 429, which includes the Representative Steven Kelly. He argued that the bill carried too much risk for taxpayers. Kelly emphasized that lawmakers must protect public funds and he warned that digital assets were too unstable for state investments. 

Although the bill is now defeated, any future effort to create a Bitcoin reserve would need to go through the legislative process again. Earlier, it had passed the business and labor committee on February 19 with Republican backing and Democratic resistance.

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