Missouri Revives Bitcoin Reserve Bill With Donation Model

Missouri Republican Representative Ben Keathley reintroduced his Bitcoin reserve bill after the original version died without a committee vote when the legislative session ended in May 2025.

House Bill 2080 proposes creating a Bitcoin strategic reserve fund managed by the Missouri State Treasury, funded primarily through voluntary donations from residents and government entities. The bill mandates a five-year holding period before any assets can be sold, transferred, or converted. It also prohibits transactions with foreign entities or those involved in illegal activities.

Keathley shifted emphasis to voluntary donations rather than direct state purchases as the primary funding mechanism. The bill now includes more comprehensive definitions for key terms like Bitcoin, cold storage, and custody. The House Commerce Committee now has jurisdiction instead of the House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs that handled the original hearing in March.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March establishing a federal strategic Bitcoin reserve using digital assets seized by law enforcement. New Hampshire became the first state to establish a Bitcoin reserve in May, authorizing up to 10% of state fund allocation into digital assets. Texas purchased approximately ₱1.15 billion ($20 million) worth of Bitcoin for its reserves in November 2025 through direct ETF purchases, taking a different approach from Missouri's donation model.

Asset manager VanEck estimated that widespread state adoption of Bitcoin reserves could drive total demand exceeding ₱1.33 trillion ($23 billion). The bill requires the treasurer to publish a biennial public report detailing fund holdings and activity, with the treasurer able to contract with US-based crypto firms for security and administration costing up to ₱1.33 trillion ($23 billion).