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Wyoming and Massachusetts Join Growing List of States Considering Bitcoin Reserves – Decrypt

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Wyoming and Massachusetts Join Growing List of States Considering Bitcoin Reserves – Decrypt


Wyoming and Massachusetts have joined the expanding number of U.S. states that may soon vote on establishing Bitcoin reserves, with representatives from both states submitting draft legislation supporting the initiative on Friday. 

In Wyoming, a group of five Republican legislators submitted a bill that would permit the state treasurer to invest public funds in Bitcoin, but no other digital assets.

In recent weeks, other states have put forth slightly more permissive bills, which would in some cases allow states to invest in stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies that surpassed $500 billion in market capitalization—though as of this writing, Bitcoin is the only asset that meets that requirement.

Wyoming’s bill is also more restrictive in another regard: It would only permit its treasurer to invest 3% of a given state fund in Bitcoin. Proposed legislation in other states, such as Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, would allow for investments in digital assets to make up 10% of similar public funds. 

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Meanwhile, in deep blue Massachusetts, a lone Republican state senator proposed a bill on Friday proposing the establishment of a Bitcoin strategic reserve. That act, submitted by Peter Durant, is more permissive than Wyoming’s, and would allow for up to 10% of Massachusetts’ rainy day fund to be comprised of Bitcoin or any manner of digital asset.  

At this point, nearly one-fifth of all U.S. state legislatures are poised to soon formally weigh whether to invest public funds in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Every such proposal has been submitted in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s re-election in November, by Republicans.

Trump, long a crypto skeptic, abruptly changed tack on the campaign trail this year after being a noted Bitcoin critic in the past. In July, onstage at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville, he called for the federal government to establish its own Bitcoin stockpile

The chorus for such initiatives is rapidly gaining momentum. On Friday afternoon, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong publicly called for the creation of a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve for the first time. 

The next global arms race will be in the digital economy, not space,” Armstrong said in a company blog post. “Bitcoin could be as foundational to the global economy as gold and will become central to national security in a world where holdings of Bitcoin can shift the balance of power among nation states.”

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Edited by Andrew Hayward

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Search for fugitive wanted for child-sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert

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Search for fugitive wanted for child-sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert


With a population under 600, Byron, Wyo., is generally a quiet town. In recent weeks, streets have been even quieter as both local and federal law enforcement search for 39-year-old fugitive Anthony Pease, who is wanted for six counts of sexual assault involving a minor.

Authorities have been searching the area for weeks, and a reward for information leading to an arrest now sits at $2,000.

See how the search impacts the town:

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Search for fugitive wanted for child sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert

Saturday morning, law enforcement shared there was a confirmed sighting of Pease near town and reminded residents to remain vigilant by locking their doors and reporting suspicious activity. According to Wyoming’s Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, before the weekend sighting, Pease hasn’t been seen since Nov. 1.

The Big Horn County Schools Superintendent, Matt Davidson, told MTN News a school resource officer on staff stays up to date with the latest on search efforts, and some parents say they’ve been keeping their kids indoors when they’re not at school.

As the search continues, the mayor as well as some residents, say they are taking law enforcement’s advice while keeping a watchful eye.

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“I never used to lock my house during the day. I didn’t even lock my vehicles at night. In fact, a lot of the time I’d leave the keys in them. I’ve talked to other people and there is quite a few people that are nervous. I would hope that a lot of us are nervous because this is a bad thing,” said Byron Mayor Allan Clark.

In fact, investigators could be seen around Byron knocking on doors and scanning land outside of town.

“There’s just so much area and a low population, so much area for him to hide and seek shelter,” Clark said.

With so many wide-open spaces and abandoned buildings in the area, Clark understands why the search has gone on so long.

According to the US Marshals Service, Pease is 5 feet 11 inches tall and may also be going by the name Abraham. They also ask that anyone nearby who has a collection of silver dollars to ensure they are still there, and if not, to report to authorities.

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Marshals say Pease is considered dangerous, and the public is told to not approach him and instead call 9-1-1. As the search has stretched over six weeks, many residents hope a capture will bring life back to normal.

“I hope that they capture him soon, and I hope that us as community members and around the area keep our eyes open and report anything suspicious,” said Clark.





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Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings

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Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings





Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings – County 17





















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Shoshoni youth sets new world record with largemouth bass catch

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Shoshoni youth sets new world record with largemouth bass catch


SHOSHONI, Wyo. — A 12-year-old boy from Shoshoni is now the proud holder of the Junior 4-pound Line Class world record for bass after netting a 2-pound, 4-ounce largemouth in August. The boy, coincidentally with the last name Bass, caught the fish at Lake Cameahwait.

According to a release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Tucker Bass and his father were fishing over the lake on a two-person kayak when the young angler reeled in the record fish. He did so on a rod and reel given to him by his grandfather.

Bass is the first Wyoming resident to hold a world record in any category for largemouth. The International Game and Fish Association oversees all world records for fishing and officially approved Bass’s catch in November.

Wyoming’s state record largemouth was caught in 2018 near Sheridan. A comprehensive list of all Wyoming record fish can be found here.

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“This is an exceptional accomplishment for a young angler,” WGF Lander Region fisheries supervisor Joe Deromedi said in the release. “Tucker’s record highlights not only his skill and dedication, but also the quality fishing opportunities we have in central Wyoming. It’s always exciting to see youth developing a lifelong passion for fishing.”

Bass, an avid fisherman, also earned Trophy Angler status in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Master Angler program in August.

For more information on Tucker Bass’s record catch, see the Wyoming Game and Fish website.

Junior Line class 4-pound world record-holder Tucker Bass (WGF Department)

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