On January 16, news broke that West Virginia has officially introduced a state-level fiscal bill involving Bitcoin, sparking widespread market discussion. The state submitted Senate Bill 143 in January, also known as the “2026 Inflation Protection Act,” proposed by State Senator Chris Rose, currently under review by the state legislative committee.
According to the bill, the West Virginia State Investment Commission may allocate up to 10% of public funds to specific assets in the future to hedge against inflation and the decline in currency purchasing power. Eligible investments include Bitcoin, gold, silver, platinum, approved stablecoins, and regulated crypto asset ETFs. However, the bill sets strict thresholds: any digital asset must have an average market capitalization of at least over the past year. Under this standard, only Bitcoin qualifies, with a market cap exceeding $1.5 trillion.
The bill also clearly addresses risk management. If Bitcoin's proportion in the portfolio increases by more than 10% due to price appreciation, the state government is not required to sell passively but cannot add to the position until the ratio decreases. Asset security is a key requirement, including institutional-grade custody solutions, secure private key management, multi-signature mechanisms, and the use of regulated custodians or ETF products. Some versions of the bill even allow for earning additional yields through staking or lending without transferring asset ownership.
West Virginia is not an isolated case. In recent years, several US states have begun reassessing Bitcoin's role in public finance. Texas, Wyoming, Arizona, and New Hampshire have all proposed or advanced similar legislation, viewing Bitcoin as a “store of value” tool in the digital age to address inflation pressures and long-term debt risks. As the US national debt surpasses $35 trillion, this exploration is accelerating.
Supporters believe the bill can enhance the state's anti-inflation resilience and modernize public fund management, while also strengthening West Virginia's forward-looking image in the digital finance sector. Opponents, however, caution that Bitcoin's price volatility is high, and public funds should maintain greater stability, continuing to prioritize traditional assets.
Next, the bill will undergo further review by the committee, then proceed to a legislative vote, and must be signed by the governor to become law. Regardless of the final outcome, this proposal sends a clear signal: Bitcoin is gradually entering the decision-making horizon of US public finance, and the concept of a state-level “Bitcoin Treasury” is moving from idea to reality.
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