Texas is advancing plans to make a government-backed Bitcoin reserve aft lawmakers approved Senate Bill 21 (SB 21) successful its 2nd House speechmaking connected May 20.
According to voting records connected the Texas Senate website, the connection passed with a commanding 105 to 23 vote, reflecting uncommon bipartisan support. It present heads to a 3rd reading, wherever a last ballot could nonstop the measure to the Governor for approval.
SB 21 seeks to found a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), making Texas 1 of the fewer US states to research nonstop vulnerability to Bitcoin astatine the authorities level.
The implications of specified a determination are considerable. Texas is the world’s eighth-largest economy, valued astatine $2.6 trillion, surpassing Russia, Canada, and Australia. A state-level Bitcoin reserve successful specified a robust system would people a large milestone for crypto adoption successful the US.
Dennis Porter, co-founder and CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund, emphasized the value of the bill’s progress.
He noted that Texas could soon go the 3rd US authorities to nonstop a Bitcoin reserve bill to the Governor’s desk, pursuing successful the footsteps of New Hampshire and Arizona.
While the 3rd speechmaking is expected shortly, Porter suggested it’s uncommon for a measure to neglect astatine this stage. However, helium conceded that:
“Every authorities is different.”
Changes to the Texas Bitcoin reserve bill
Ahead of the vote, lawmakers introduced a important amendment allowing different integer assets to beryllium included successful the reserve, but lone if they conscionable strict requirements.
To qualify, a integer plus indispensable support a $500 cardinal marketplace headdress for astatine slightest 2 years. This is treble the archetypal 12-month request and raises the obstruction for inclusion.
Bitcoin Laws, a Bitcoin policy-focused firm, explained:
“This means [that] an plus indispensable prolong the minimum marketplace headdress for longer. Making it harder for to qualify.”
This update efficaciously narrows the tract arsenic Bitcoin stands unsocial successful gathering the threshold. It holds a marketplace worth of much than $2 trillion, making it the lone eligible integer plus nether the existent criteria.
The station World’s 8th largest system adjacent to adopting Bitcoin reserve arsenic Texas heads to last vote appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.