Why is Vancouver not moving forward with the Bitcoin initiative?
City staff determined that the Vancouver Charter does not allow for cryptocurrency to be held as a municipal reserve asset.
Finance / Bitcoin
Vancouver city staff are recommending that the city drop Mayor Ken Sim's motion to explore converting some of its financial reserves into Bitcoin. Staff determined that the Vancouver Charter does not allow for cryptocurrency to be held as a...
In December 2024, Vancouver city council approved a motion to explore becoming a "bitcoin-friendly" city, including the possibility of converting some of its financial reserves into Bitcoin. However, city staff have now recommended that the motion be dropped because they have determined that the Vancouver Charter, which governs how the city operates and invests public funds, does not allow for cryptocurrency to be held as a municipal reserve asset.
The British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs has also stated that municipalities cannot hold financial reserves in crypto under provincial rules, as it would expose local government funds to undue risk. While Mayor Sim had been a vocal proponent of Bitcoin, even pledging to donate $10,000 worth of it to the city, he has toned down his enthusiasm in recent months.
City staff determined that the Vancouver Charter does not allow for cryptocurrency to be held as a municipal reserve asset.
Mayor Sim proposed exploring options to make Vancouver "bitcoin-friendly," including converting some of the city's financial reserves into the cryptocurrency and pledged to donate $10,000 worth of Bitcoin to the city.
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