The state of Arizona has come close to becoming the first region in the United States to officially invest public funds in bitcoin. Local lawmakers have approved two bills, SB 1025 and SB 1373, which allow the state treasurer to invest up to 10% of state assets in digital currencies, including bitcoin and NFT.
In practice, this means that of the 31.5 billion dollars managed by the state, up to 3.14 billion can be used to purchase digital assets. The draft laws provide not only for investment, but also for the creation of a Strategic Reserve Fund for digital Assets. It will store confiscated or transferred crypto assets, as well as implement an online audit mechanism and standardized risk management.
The bills are currently awaiting the signature of Governor Kathy Hobbs. Her decision will be key: a signature will launch the distribution of funds, and a veto will block the entire initiative. Amid rumors of possible political support for the bill from the governor, the market reacted with growth — bitcoin rose again to $ 95,000.
Interestingly, Arizona is not the only state considering such a policy. Similar ideas are being discussed in Texas, Florida, and New Hampshire, where authorities are exploring ways to attract blockchain innovation and diversify the state budget. But if the law is signed, Arizona will become the first in the country to introduce digital assets into the structure of public financial management at the official level.
If the permitted investment volume is fully utilized, the state will be able to purchase about 31,000 BTC. This will make Arizona one of the largest holders of bitcoin among public institutions, surpassing even such giants as Tesla and Marathon Digital.
On paper, everything looks promising: protection from inflation, participation in the growth of the new digital sector, strengthening the image of Arizona as a progressive state. But do not forget about the risks — volatility, possible regulatory restrictions and the unpredictability of the crypto market itself.
And that's the main question that remains.:
Will investing government billions in bitcoin pay off, or has Arizona played too risky a game with the future of its finances?
