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Massachusetts’ Bitcoin Reserve Bill Hits a Wall as Lawmakers Go Silent — What’s Next?

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A proposal to ascertain a state-backed Bitcoin reserve in Massachusetts has encountered an early setback after state lawmakers confirmed little engagement throughout its first public listening to in eight months.

The invoice, titled An Act Relative to a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, was introduced by Republican State Senator Peter Durant and presented earlier than the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue on Tuesday.

Massachusetts Bill Proposes Allocating Billions From State Reserve to Bitcoin

The measure seeks to authorize the state treasury to allocate as much as 10% of the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, a reserve price billions, into Bitcoin and different digital belongings.

It would additionally permit Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies seized by state authorities to be added to a devoted reserve.

“This creates a prudent diversification device, guaranteeing full transparency, oversight, and threat administration with out mandating any motion,” Durant mentioned through the session.

However, after opening the ground for questions, the committee members remained silent, providing no responses or follow-up inquiries on the proposal.

The quiet reception marked the invoice’s first legislative exercise because it was launched in February 2025.

The committee now has 60 days to both advance the laws or refer it for added evaluate, indicating potential motion by early December.

Durant mentioned that he stays optimistic regardless of the shortage of instant engagement.

“We’ve been having nice conversations with our colleagues about the potential of bringing Bitcoin to Massachusetts, and we’re working onerous to maneuver this ahead alongside others who’ve filed comparable laws,” he mentioned.

“Lawmakers have been engaged and open through the course of, and we’re centered on persevering with to teach each stakeholder.”

Dennis Porter, CEO of the Bitcoin advocacy group Satoshi Action Fund, additionally testified in help of the invoice.

Porter described Massachusetts as “a historic monetary hub” nicely suited to steer state-level Bitcoin initiatives, noting that the state pioneered America’s first mutual fund and has lengthy been central to U.S. monetary innovation.

He argued that the measure might be bipartisan in nature and pointed to different U.S. states which have already taken steps to create digital asset reserves.

State Bitcoin Reserve Movement Falters as Massachusetts Adds to Growing List of Delays

The Massachusetts listening to follows comparable exercise throughout the nation, the place a handful of states have explored or enacted Bitcoin reserve measures.

Texas, Arizona, and New Hampshire have all handed laws establishing state-level reserves, whereas proposals in Wyoming, Montana, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota have stalled or been rejected.

As of October 2025, solely three states have efficiently created Bitcoin reserve frameworks. New Hampshire grew to become the primary in May, adopted by Arizona and Texas, which accepted a modest $10 million allocation earlier this yr.

Data from the Bitcoin Reserve Monitor shows that greater than two dozen states launched reserve-related payments in 2025, however most stay in committee or face unsure prospects.

Source: Bitcoin Reserve Monitor

The tepid response in Massachusetts comes amid a broader cooling of momentum for such initiatives.

Bloomberg reported in February that not less than 4 states rejected Bitcoin reserve proposals in a single month, citing volatility and monetary threat.

Jennifer Schulp of the Cato Institute famous that even in bullish market situations, value swings stay a main impediment for lawmakers tasked with managing public funds.

Under Durant’s plan, the proposed reserve wouldn’t compel the state treasury to right away purchase Bitcoin.

Instead, it could authorize, however not require, as much as 10% of the stabilization fund to be allotted towards Bitcoin or comparable digital belongings as a part of a diversification technique.

State and Federal Bitcoin Reserve Efforts Converge

The invoice’s timing coincides with rising federal consideration to Bitcoin reserves. In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing the creation of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, funded primarily by Bitcoin seized by the Department of Treasury.

Senator Cynthia Lummis has since launched federal laws that will authorize the federal government to buy as much as a million BTC over 5 years, although the invoice stays in Congress.

In a current submit on X, Lummis reaffirmed her support for the federal initiative, calling the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve a “fabulous articulation” of why the U.S. ought to maintain Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

She added that whereas legislative delays persist, “the acquisition of funds for an SBR can begin anytime.”

Critics, nevertheless, proceed to warn that its excessive volatility makes it unsuitable for taxpayer-backed reserves.

Still, momentum for such measures continues internationally. Sweden not too long ago introduced a parliamentary motion calling for a nationwide Bitcoin technique, whereas Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines are contemplating comparable frameworks.

With the Joint Committee on Revenue anticipated to concern its choice by early December, the Massachusetts Bitcoin reserve invoice now sits at a crossroads.

The submit Massachusetts’ Bitcoin Reserve Bill Hits a Wall as Lawmakers Go Silent — What’s Next? appeared first on Cryptonews.

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