Montana Moves Forward with Bitcoin Reserve Bill Amid Growing State Interest

Montana’s House Business and Labor Committee has passed House Bill 429, a proposal that could enable Bitcoin and other digital assets to be used as state reserve assets. The bill advanced with a 12-8 vote, following party lines, with all Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.

The bill proposes creating a special revenue account for state investments in precious metals, stablecoins, and digital assets with an average market cap exceeding $750 billion over the past year—currently, only Bitcoin meets this criterion. If enacted, it would take effect on July 1, allowing the state treasurer to allocate up to $50 million into the fund by July 15. An amendment removed the requirement for funds to be managed by a qualified custodian or exchange-traded fund.

Montana joins Utah, Arizona, and Oklahoma in pushing Bitcoin reserve bills, with Utah leading as the only state where such legislation has passed the House. Other states, including Illinois, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, have introduced similar measures.

At the federal level, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis continues advocating for Bitcoin reserve legislation, reinforcing the growing momentum for crypto-friendly policies.

As Bitcoin adoption expands, Montana's decision signals increasing state-level interest in digital assets as viable reserve holdings.