Indiana’s legislature has passed a bill allowing public retirement and savings plans to invest in cryptocurrencies and related spot ETFs. Governor Mike Braun is expected to sign House Bill 1042 into law, a move that follows a broader state strategy to diversify pension fund investments and modernize its portfolio with digital assets.
Indiana is moving closer to formally opening its public retirement system to digital assets. The state legislature has passed a bill that would allow some retirement and savings plans to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies and spot exchange-traded funds.
Governor Mike Braun is expected to sign House Bill 1042 into law within the next 10 days. If signed, the new law will authorize public funds in Indiana to invest in digital asset products, including spot crypto ETFs.
It also reaffirms the right of residents to access other cryptocurrency-related financial products. Supporters say this move is part of the state’s broader effort to modernize the existing investment strategy.
Indiana is not acting alone, as several other states have already taken similar steps. States like Wyoming, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona have moved to allow public funds to gain exposure to digital assets, often focusing on regulated products like ETFs.
This step is a step forward considering Indiana’s previous crypto exposure proposal introduced last year. House Bill 1322 was proposed by State Representative Jake Teshka and sought to allow the state’s pension funds to invest in both Bitcoin futures ETFs and spot Bitcoin ETFs.
The goal of the bill is to diversify the investment strategy of public retirement funds. These funds provide retirement benefits for state employees, which includes teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other government workers.
Lawmakers backing the proposal argue that adding regulated Bitcoin ETF exposure could help improve long-term returns while spreading risk. With the governor’s signature expected very soon, Indiana may soon join the list of states bringing digital assets into their public finance systems.
