Bitcoin Reserve Bill Fails as South Dakota Lawmakers Shut Down Proposal

A legislative proposal aimed at allowing South Dakota to allocate a portion of its public funds into Bitcoin has been halted. House Bill 1202, introduced by Representative Logan Manhart, sought to establish a Bitcoin reserve by permitting the state to invest up to 10% of its portfolio in the cryptocurrency. However, lawmakers deferred the bill, effectively stopping its progress for this legislative session.

State Bitcoin Reserve Plan Fails as South Dakota Lawmakers Defer

The South Dakota House Commerce and Energy Committee deferred HB 1202, preventing it from advancing. The bill aimed to allow the state to invest public funds in Bitcoin, positioning it among the first in the nation to hold a Bitcoin reserve.

However, the legislative process was cut short when lawmakers voted to push the bill beyond the 40-day session, a move that ended its chances for this year.

Representative Logan Manhart, who introduced the bill, expressed his intention to reintroduce it in 2026. The deferral reflects concerns about regulatory uncertainties, market volatility, and the risks associated with using public funds for cryptocurrency investments. 

Despite these concerns, Bitcoin reserve proposals continue to emerge in other states, indicating ongoing interest in integrating digital assets into public investment strategies.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin Strategy continues to gain traction with institutional adoption as Michael Saylor’s firm expands its holdings. MicroStrategy, now rebranded as Strategy, has nearly 500,000 BTC after its latest $2 billion purchase.

Concerns Over Volatility and Regulation 

The primary concerns cited for deferring HB 1202 were Bitcoin’s price volatility and the lack of clear federal regulations. Opponents of the bill argued that investing in a highly fluctuating asset could expose public funds to financial risk. 

The unpredictability of Bitcoin prices made some lawmakers hesitant to approve the allocation of taxpayer money toward a digital asset.

Moreover, crypto regulation uncertainty at both the state and federal levels also played a role in the bill’s stagnation. With the legal landscape surrounding Bitcoin reserves still evolving, lawmakers expressed caution about moving forward without clearer guidelines. The deferral follows similar rejections in other states, such as North Dakota and Montana, where Bitcoin reserve proposals also failed to gain approval.

Although HB 1202 failed to pass, discussions around state-held Bitcoin reserves are expected to continue. Some states, including Florida, Missouri, and Arizona, have introduced similar proposals, keeping the debate on cryptocurrency investments active.

At press time, Bitcoin price is $91,824, reflecting a 4% decline over the past 24 hours. The market cap stands at $1.82 trillion, with a 24-hour trading volume of $48.24 billion, showing an increase of 180.96%.

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