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Missouri lawmakers have moved House Bill 2080 to the House Commerce Committee for review. The proposal would create a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund under the state treasurer’s authority. The bill allows Bitcoin donations and permits limited purchases using state funds.
Missouri House Bill 2080 Sets Framework for Bitcoin Reserve
Representative Ben Keathley introduced House Bill 2080 in January to establish a state-managed Bitcoin reserve. The measure directs the state treasurer to create a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund funded mainly through voluntary contributions.
The bill states that funding may come from “gifts, grants, donations, bequests, or devises of Bitcoin.” It also authorizes the treasurer to “invest, purchase, and hold cryptocurrency using state funds.” The proposal now awaits a public hearing and committee vote in the House Commerce Committee.
The legislation requires the treasurer to store all received Bitcoin in cold storage. The bill mandates that the state hold the assets for at least five years from the custody date. After that period, the treasurer may transfer, sell, appropriate, or convert the holdings to another cryptocurrency. The framework allows the treasurer to contract with a qualified, independent, United States-based cryptocurrency entity. The bill also requires the treasurer to publish a biennial report detailing fund activities.
House Bill 2080 Replaces HB 1217, Sets New Path in Missouri Legislature
House Bill 2080 follows an earlier effort by Keathley during the 2025 session. His prior bill, HB 1217, stalled in committee and did not reach a floor vote. This year’s version moves to the House Commerce Committee instead of the Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
Lawmakers revised the custody framework and clarified reporting requirements. The bill must clear the committee before the full House debates and votes on the measure. If the House approves the bill, it will move to the Missouri Senate for committee review. The Senate would then consider the measure on the floor before any final vote.
The proposal emphasizes voluntary contributions as the primary funding source. However, it also grants authority to purchase Bitcoin with state funds. The legislation outlines governance steps and security measures before any transactions occur.
Texas and New Hampshire Advance Bitcoin and Crypto Policies
Missouri’s proposal comes as several states develop their own crypto reserve frameworks. Texas became the first state to purchase exposure to Bitcoin after a legislative effort that began in 2024. The Texas comptroller acquired about $5 million in the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF. The office made the purchase on November 20, 2025, when Bitcoin traded at $91,336. State officials described the purchase as a “placeholder” while they finalize security and storage for direct holdings.
Texas authorized the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve through state legislation. However, the state has not purchased on-chain Bitcoin to date. Lawmakers allocated $10 million for the reserve and deployed half for the ETF purchase. New Hampshire enacted its crypto strategic reserve law in May last year. The law authorizes the state treasurer to invest up to 5% of state funds in crypto ETFs. It also permits investments in precious metals such as gold.
New Hampshire also approved a $100 million Bitcoin-backed municipal bond issuance last November. The issuance has not occurred yet, though officials plan to complete it this year. Arizona passed similar legislation that allows a Bitcoin reserve framework. However, Arizona restricts its reserve to Bitcoin acquired through seized or forfeited assets. Massachusetts, Ohio, and South Dakota have bills under review by committees. Several states, including Colorado, Utah, and Louisiana, accept cryptocurrency for tax payments.
Crypto Market Structure Bill Negotiations Continue
At the federal level, lawmakers continue negotiations over the crypto market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, which will play a crucial role in the U.S. crypto market. Officials held a third round of talks at the White House last Thursday. Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, described the meeting as “a big step forward.” He wrote on X that “We’re close” and expressed confidence that negotiators could meet the deadline.
https://x.com/patrickjwitt/status/2024867270497890535?s=20
Congress continues to debate the bill’s provisions while states advance their own frameworks. The 2024 election cycle marked a period of expanded crypto industry lobbying. Reports indicate that the industry supported candidates from both major political parties. Lawmakers at the state and federal levels now address governance, custody, and reporting standards for digital assets. Negotiators have not yet announced a final agreement on the CLARITY Act.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last March to create a federal strategic Bitcoin reserve. The order limited authorization to seize cryptocurrency to avoid using taxpayer funds. Federal authorities have discussed governance structures similar to those emerging at the state level. These structures often include reporting requirements and defined custody standards. Negotiations on the CLARITY Act continue as lawmakers refine market oversight rules.