In a renewed legislative effort, South Dakota is once again examining the possibility of integrating Bitcoin into its portfolio of publicly managed investments. On Tuesday, Republican Representative Logan Manhart formally introduced House Bill 1155, a proposal to empower the State Investment Council to allocate as much as 10% of qualifying public funds in Bitcoin holdings. This initiative mirrors an earlier attempt from the previous year that was effectively halted amidst apprehensions over digital currency price instability.
The bill outlines three distinct methods by which the state may hold Bitcoin: directly possessing the cryptocurrency under exclusive governmental control; entrusting qualified custodians, such as regulated financial institutions; or investing via regulated Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Each pathway aims to provide flexibility while ensuring compliance with established financial standards.
Recognizing risks inherent in handling digital assets, the legislation mandates rigorous security requirements for any Bitcoin holdings. Specifically, the state must maintain control over its private cryptographic keys, ensure they are encrypted and stored across multiple secure hardware locations, require multiple personnel approvals before authorizing transactions, and conduct systematic security audits to maintain integrity.
Following its introduction, House Bill 1155 has been assigned to the Committee on Commerce and Energy, the same legislative body responsible for defeating a nearly identical proposal—House Bill 1202—last year. The earlier bill was introduced in January 2025 but failed to proceed before session adjournment, with the legislature postponing its consideration past the allowable timeframe as the session spanned only 40 days.
Opposition to the previous bill centered primarily on concerns regarding Bitcoin’s notorious price volatility. According to South Dakota’s State Investment Officer Matt Clark, Bitcoin’s lack of intrinsic physical application and failure to generate consistent income streams rendered it unsuitable as a state asset. At that time in February 2025, Bitcoin’s value hovered near $89,500, which is comparable to its recent trading price around $89,900, indicating relative stability in the interim period.
Allocating up to 10% of public funds into Bitcoin represents a bold approach relative to traditional portfolio diversification theories, which typically advise more conservative investments for state funds. This threshold, however, remains circumspect when contrasted with private corporate strategies; for example, the publicly traded firm Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) retains a majority proportion of its treasury in Bitcoin, owning over 712,000 BTC. Still, it is important to note that private companies, unlike public institutions, manage capital without direct taxpayer accountability.
The set cap of 10% offers a balance—providing a significant enough exposure to benefit from any appreciation in Bitcoin’s market value, while simultaneously limiting potential downside risks. In the event of a market rally, this allocation could considerably enhance state investment returns. Conversely, should Bitcoin’s price decline sharply, losses would be confined to the defined percentage of the invested state funds.
When announcing the bill, Representative Manhart expressed confidence in the proposal’s alignment with fiscal strength, noting via social media platform X, “I am proud to say I have released my bill that would allow the State of South Dakota to invest in Bitcoin. Strong money. Strong state.”
Over recent years, Bitcoin’s price fluctuations have diminished in severity relative to earlier crypto market cycles, alongside growing institutional adoption. However, some state-level financial officers—including Clark—remain hesitant, citing Bitcoin’s absence of cash flow generation as a fundamental drawback.
For advocates and holders of Bitcoin, state adoption carries symbolic importance, underscoring growing legitimacy and potentially fostering consistent buying demand. Such developments can influence broader market sentiment. Nevertheless, the practical market impact of South Dakota’s public funds entering the Bitcoin market is limited by the state's comparatively small investment pool versus Bitcoin’s overall $1.8 trillion market capitalization.