North Carolina Proposes Bitcoin State Reserve

Bill Proposes 10% Public Fund Allocation to Bitcoin

On March 19, 2026, lawmakers in North Carolina introduced Senate Bill 327, proposing the creation of a state-managed Bitcoin reserve. The legislation would permit the Office of the State Treasurer to allocate up to 10% of public funds for long-term investment in Bitcoin. This move aims to establish a strategic reserve, promote financial innovation, and position the state as a leader in cryptocurrency adoption.

The bill outlines strict security and management protocols. All assets would be held in cold storage wallets using multi-signature authentication to ensure state control. It also calls for the creation of a Bitcoin Economic Advisory Board to provide expert guidance and mandates monthly audits to verify the reserve's balance and performance. Any liquidation of the Bitcoin holdings would require a two-thirds approval from both chambers of the General Assembly, restricting its use to severe financial crises or funding critical infrastructure.

US States Advance Crypto Reserve Legislation

North Carolina's initiative is part of a larger pattern of U.S. states exploring digital assets for their treasuries. Just days earlier, on March 17, lawmakers in Missouri advanced House Bill 2080, which would authorize the state to hold a diversified portfolio of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and USDC in its official reserves. The bill successfully passed a committee vote and now moves to the full House for consideration.

These efforts reflect a growing trend to diversify state financial assets and hedge against traditional market volatility. States such as Texas, New Hampshire, and Arizona have already enacted laws allowing public funds to be invested in Bitcoin. Meanwhile, at least nine other states, including Maryland, Iowa, and Tennessee, have introduced similar legislative proposals, signaling a significant policy shift toward integrating digital assets into public finance.

Bitcoin ATM Revenue Declines on Stricter State Rules

While state governments are increasingly viewing Bitcoin as a strategic asset, they are also tightening regulations on consumer access points. Bitcoin Depot (Nasdaq: BTM), the largest Bitcoin ATM operator in North America, reported that new state-level transaction size caps and enhanced compliance standards were primary drivers of a revenue decline in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Reflecting this challenging environment, the company issued a forecast for its core business revenue to fall by 30% to 40% in 2026. This highlights a dual-track reality for the industry: institutional and government adoption is accelerating, while the regulatory landscape for retail-focused crypto services is becoming more restrictive, directly impacting the profitability of established operators.