- North Carolina lawmakers have proposed bills to allow state retirement funds to invest in cryptocurrencies, aiming to expand investment options and boost the crypto market.
- This follows the introduction of the Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act by North Carolina senators, urging the treasurer to allocate up to 10% of public funds into Bitcoin.
North Carolina is currently considering legislative measures that would permit the inclusion of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC), in the state’s retirement and pension fund portfolios. This is part of a broader trend among U.S. states exploring the potential of digital assets to diversify and potentially enhance the returns of public investment funds.
House Bill 506, known as the Investment Modernization Act, was introduced by Representative Brenden Jones on March 24. The bill aims to establish an independent investment authority within the state Treasury to assess which digital assets could be integrated into state retirement funds. A companion bill, Senate Bill 709, named the State Investment Modernization Act, was introduced in the Senate on March 25.
According to the bills, a digital asset includes cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or any other electronically stored asset that grants financial, proprietary, or access privileges. Unlike crypto laws in other states that set a minimum market capitalization for digital assets to qualify for investment, North Carolina’s bills do not include such restrictions.
If approved, the authority could allocate up to 5% of various state pension funds into digital assets. The State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) has voiced apprehension about the potential risks to pension funds, cautioning against exposing retirement savings to the unpredictable nature of the cryptocurrency market.
Legislative Developments
In addition to this, North Carolina introduced a bill aimed at positioning the state as a frontrunner in government-led cryptocurrency adoption. Senate Bill 327 (SB327), championed by Republican Senators Todd Johnson, Brad Overcash, and Timothy Moffitt, proposes allocating up to 10% of the state’s public funds to Bitcoin.
Framing Bitcoin investment as a “financial innovation strategy,” the bill seeks to strengthen North Carolina’s economic standing. It mandates that any acquired Bitcoin be stored in multi-signature cold storage and undergo monthly audits to ensure security and transparency.
SB327 also enforces strict controls on Bitcoin transactions, allowing liquidation only in cases of a “severe financial crisis” and requiring approval from two-thirds of the General Assembly before any sale can take place. Supporters argue that investing in cryptocurrencies could diversify the state’s portfolio, while critics raise concerns about the volatility and regulatory uncertainties surrounding digital assets.
North Carolina is part of a growing wave of states exploring cryptocurrency adoption. To date, 41 Bitcoin reserve bills have been introduced across 23 states, with 35 still under review. One notable example is Oklahoma’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, which recently passed the House with a 77-15 vote and is now awaiting a Senate decision.
Further fueling this movement, CNF reported that President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, highlighting a broader push toward integrating digital assets into government financial strategies under his administration.
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