Florida Pushes to Add Bitcoin and Crypto ETFs to State Pension Funds

Core Insights - Florida lawmakers are proposing a new financial tool that would allow pension funds and public investment pools to invest in bitcoin and crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) [1] - The proposal would enable the allocation of up to 10 percent of these funds into digital assets, marking a significant shift from traditional investment strategies [1][4] Group 1: Legislative Proposal - The proposal is led by Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, who advocates for bitcoin as "digital gold" and a hedge against market volatility [2] - The bill, known as House Bill 183, outlines the management of crypto investments, requiring proper custody channels for bitcoin and other digital assets [4] - The legislation allows for bitcoin lending to generate additional income, with a cap of 10 percent on eligible fund investments [4] Group 2: Financial Context - The State Board of Administration (SBA) manages over $205 billion in assets, including one of the largest pension funds in the U.S., the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund [3] - Other states, such as Wisconsin and Michigan, have begun to invest in crypto, with Wisconsin investing $164 million in spot bitcoin ETFs, representing 0.1 percent of its total assets [6] - Florida's larger fund size could lead to more significant advancements in crypto investments compared to other states [7]