Missouri Bitcoin Reserve Bill Heads to House Commerce Panel
- HB 2080 would place bitcoin gifts in treasury custody with a strict five-year lockup.
- After five years, the Treasurer could sell, transfer, or convert holdings by rule.
- The bill adds audits, a biennial public report, and approved crypto payments statewide.
Missouri lawmakers have moved House Bill 2080 to the State House Commerce Committee, reviving efforts to establish a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund within the state treasury. Representative Ben Keathley introduced the measure to authorize the State Treasurer to receive, invest, and hold bitcoin under defined conditions. The proposal received its first and second readings in January 2026 and reached the committee on Feb. 19.
The bill seeks to create a formal structure for state custody of digital assets. It would allow the treasurer to accept gifts, grants, or donations of bitcoin from eligible Missouri residents or governmental entities. The treasurer would then hold those assets for at least five years before any sale, transfer, or conversion.
At the same time, the measure would grant authority to purchase cryptocurrency using state funds. It would also require government entities to accept approved digital assets for taxes, fees, and other payments.
Framework for a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve
House Bill 2080 defines key terms such as “Bitcoin,” “cryptocurrency,” “cold storage,” “custody,” and “donor.” These definitions create a statutory framework for how Missouri would manage digital assets within the treasury.
Under the proposal, the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund would consist of money collected under the new section. The State Treasurer would act as custodian and manage the fund under existing state investment standards. Any interest or earnings would return to the reserve rather than to general revenue.
Furthermore, the bill states that balances remaining at the end of a biennium would not revert to the general revenue fund. The Treasurer could accept gifts, grants, donations, bequests, or devises of bitcoin from eligible Missouri residents or governmental entities. Each contribution would enter state custody and remain there for a mandatory five-year holding period.
After that period, the Treasurer could transfer, sell, appropriate, or convert the bitcoin into another cryptocurrency at their discretion. The bill also directs the Treasurer to create a straightforward donation process and permits the issuance of certificates of acknowledgment to contributors, along with a public recognition program.
Security, Reporting, and Oversight
The legislation directs the Treasurer to develop policies and protocols to secure the reserve. These measures include cold storage and other digital-asset management practices designed to protect state holdings.
In addition, the Treasurer could contract with a qualified, independent, U.S.-based third-party cryptocurrency entity to assist with security and administration. The bill prohibits transactions involving foreign countries, individuals outside Missouri, or parties known to engage in illegal activities.
Regular audits would ensure transparency and oversight. The Treasurer would also prepare a biennial public report before December 31 of each even-numbered year. That report would detail total bitcoin holdings, equivalent U.S. dollar value, growth since the previous report, transactions, security threats, and amounts eligible for transfer or conversion after five years.
Beyond the reserve itself, the bill would authorize the Treasurer to invest, purchase, and hold cryptocurrency using state funds. It would also require Missouri government entities to accept approved cryptocurrencies for taxes, fees, fines, and other payments, while allowing service fees to be passed through to payers.
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Second Attempt Amid Broader State Trends
House Bill 2080 marks Representative Keathley’s second effort to establish a state bitcoin reserve. His earlier proposal, HB 1217, appeared in February 2025 and received a hearing in March before the House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs. That measure did not advance and died in committee before the session ended.
Now, lawmakers have revived the concept and placed it before the House Commerce Committee. Will Missouri join the growing list of states that formalize bitcoin reserves within their treasuries?
The renewed push follows wider national developments. The U.S. federal government established a national strategic Bitcoin reserve in 2025 following President Donald Trump’s March executive order. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Kansas and Florida have advanced similar proposals, and Arizona, Texas, and New Hampshire have passed crypto reserve legislation.
