Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor for the State of Texas, listed Bitcoin Reserve as a top priority for 2025. Other industry-adjacent priorities include “Texas D.O.G.E.” and electrical grid upgrades.
However, Patrick did not give any clear indications of pro-crypto sentiments before today and actually criticized the mining industry in Texas last year. It is unclear how deep his newfound commitment to the industry will go.
A Texas Bitcoin Reserve
The movement to create a US national Bitcoin Reserve has been growing in strength for months now. Around 15 states are crafting legislation for state-level Bitcoin reserves, and Texas has been an early and persistent member of this coalition.
Today, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick listed the establishment of a Texas Reserve as a “top priority” for 2025.
Although the push for a national-level reserve is apparently growing, it has received a few setbacks. President Trump issued an executive order to create a “digital stockpile,” which is neither Bitcoin-exclusive nor integrated with the Federal Reserve.
Some have feared that this half-measure may sap energy for a national reserve, but Texas is still trying to stockpile Bitcoin.
Initially, Patrick announced the names of 25 bills with the “top priority” designation and will follow up with 15 more. However, only a few of these directly or indirectly benefit crypto. The Texas Bitcoin Reserve proposal is an obvious help, as is the “Texas D.O.G.E.” proposal.
However, the governor preemptively addressed these concerns, saying he limited his initial set of goals:
“Senators like having a low bill number since it shows their bill is a priority of the Lt. Governor and has a high probability of passage. Just because a bill is not included in the top 40 does not mean it is not a priority for me or the Senate. There will be hundreds of bills that pass the Senate, all of which are important to Texas,” Governor Patrick claimed.
Additionally, several other priority bills would clearly help Texas’ Bitcoin industry through one avenue: crypto mining. The state has become a hub for mining, with several leading companies relocating to Texas in the last year.
Some of Patrick’s other priorities, like investing in the electrical grid or water supply, would likely benefit this industry.
“A US state moving to hold BTC on the books? That’s next-level adoption. If this passes, Texas wouldn’t just be mining-friendly – it’d be holding hard money on a state balance sheet,” wrote Mario Nawfal.
Ultimately, though, it may be too early to get particularly excited. Patrick has occupied this position for a decade, and he hasn’t made any substantial pro-crypto statements or policies before this.
In fact, he publicly criticized the mining sector last year. In short, the governor may have placed a top priority on a Texas Bitcoin Reserve, but the bill still needs to pass.
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