Indiana Bill Would Require Public Pensions to Offer Bitcoin Investment Options
Indiana House Bill 1042 proposes that public retirement programs in the state must offer Bitcoin-related investment options, including crypto ETFs, as standard choices. The bill would permit some public pension funds to invest directly in crypto-linked ETFs and authorize the state treasurer to allocate funds into stablecoin-based ETFs.
Additionally, the legislation would prevent cities and counties from imposing rules that unreasonably restrict digital assets if comparable financial regulations do not apply to traditional assets. This protection covers crypto payments, private wallets, and mining operations.
To safeguard self-custody, private keys could only be demanded by court order and only when no other legal access exists. The bill also provides zoning protections to shield residential mining activities in appropriately zoned areas.
If enacted, Indiana would become the first state to require that publicly managed retirement programs offer Bitcoin exposure as a standard investment option. The bill aims to balance investment choice with regulatory guardrails and includes plans to explore blockchain applications through pilot programs.
This proposal is part of a wider trend of state-level crypto adoption efforts, with similar legislation passing or planned in states such as Oklahoma (2024 self-custody law), Kentucky (2025 property-right recognition), Wyoming (digital-asset pension rules), as well as in Arizona, Florida, California, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York City.
