North Carolina Legislature Considers Adding Crypto to Retirement Plans
North Carolina is currently considering legislative measures that would permit the inclusion of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC), in the state’s retirement and pension fund portfolios. This is part of a broader trend among U.S. states exploring the potential of digital assets to diversify and potentially enhance the returns of public investment funds.
House Bill 506 , known as the Investment Modernization Act, was introduced by Representative Brenden Jones on March 24. The bill aims to establish an independent investment authority within the state Treasury to assess which digital assets could be integrated into state retirement funds. A companion bill, Senate Bill 709 , named the State Investment Modernization Act, was introduced in the Senate on March 25.
According to the bills, a digital asset includes cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or any other electronically stored asset that grants financial, proprietary, or access privileges. Unlike crypto laws in other states that set a minimum market capitalization for digital assets to qualify for investment, North Carolina’s bills do not include such restrictions.
If approved, the authority could allocate up to 5% of various state pension funds into digital assets. The State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) has voiced apprehension about the potential risks to pension funds, cautioning against exposing retirement savings to the unpredictable nature of the cryptocurrency market.
In addition to this, North Carolina introduced a bill aimed at positioning the state as a frontrunner in government-led cryptocurrency adoption. Senate Bill 327 (SB327), championed by Republican Senators Todd Johnson, Brad Overcash, and Timothy Moffitt, proposes allocating up to 10% of the state’s public funds to Bitcoin.
Framing Bitcoin investment as a “financial innovation strategy,” the bill seeks to strengthen North Carolina’s economic standing. It mandates that any acquired Bitcoin be stored in multi-signature cold storage and undergo monthly audits to ensure security and transparency.
SB327 also enforces strict controls on Bitcoin transactions, allowing liquidation only in cases of a “severe financial crisis” and requiring approval from two-thirds of the General Assembly before any sale can take place. Supporters argue that investing in cryptocurrencies could diversify the state’s portfolio, while critics raise concerns about the volatility and regulatory uncertainties surrounding digital assets.
North Carolina is part of a growing wave of states exploring cryptocurrency adoption. To date, 41 Bitcoin reserve bills have been introduced across 23 states, with 35 still under review. One notable example is Oklahoma’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, which recently passed the House with a 77-15 vote and is now awaiting a Senate decision.
Further fueling this movement, CNF reported that President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, highlighting a broader push toward integrating digital assets into government financial strategies under his administration.
Stock Market: The Ghosts Of The 2000 Crash Haunt Wall Street
In the aisles of Wall Street, the atmosphere is no longer festive. For a few weeks now, the American stock market has been showing symptoms of a relapse that we thought forgotten. The specter of a crash — in the style of 2000 or 2008 — resurfaces. And while analysts pull out their old survival manuals, others see it as an opportunity for a big cleanup. But what does history really tell us? And above all, how do we read the signs in this changing economic jungle?
Indeed, the American stock market loves to trip over the carpet of overvaluation. In 2000, the Nasdaq (now aligned with Bitcoin ) reached 5,000 points, before crashing down on a 78% drop. A quarter of a century later, are we seeing a repeat? In any case, it looks like it .
The Nasdaq is already down 13% in a month, like a foretaste of an indigestible dish.
Back then, we invested in companies whose only tangible asset was a PowerPoint. Today, it’s artificial intelligences that are sparking euphoria, in the form of Nvidia and its tech cousins. History repeats itself, but with more printed circuits.
As Jim Osman says: ” You haven’t seen anything yet “. He speaks from experience: the Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Dow Jones all crashed back then. And this time? Nothing guarantees that the scenario will be less violent.
And you, are you ready for a HD rerun of the 2000 crash?
On the other side of the Atlantic, the United States moves like somnambulists on a thread of debt and illusions. The American economy, on paper, seems robust, but the foundations are cracking. Proof? The famous S&P 500 has slipped over 10% recently, flirting with correction like a shy teenager with disaster.
The profit margins of American companies have reached unprecedented levels: over 9%, far above the historical norm (between 3.8% and 7.2%). It’s no longer an economy, it’s a trampoline. And beware of the landing!
A simple “reversion to the mean” — returning to the average, as professionals say — could plunge profits by 20%, or even more.
Robert Kiyosaki doesn’t mince his words :
This crash will be bigger than that of 1929.
Just that. But don’t panic! According to him, you should “stay stoic, keep your eyes open… and buy when everyone is fleeing “.
Should we tremble or break out the checkbook?
As investors try to keep a cool head, one question remains: are we witnessing the bursting of a new bubble or a healthy correction? The indicators are as reassuring as a lace parachute. Some talk about “bull traps”, those false recoveries that precede the real fall.
Remember: in 2001, after the dot-com boom, the market had recovered 21%… before losing 32% again. A repeat in 2008. And today? The valuations are once again under tension. The forward P/E (price-to-earnings ratio) is dangerously approaching 23x, a level that preceded the last two major corrections.
And yet, not all is lost. Artificial intelligence is not just a flash in the pan, as some analysts remind us. The problem is not the technology, but the exuberance of investors, that old demon of Wall Street.
So, is this stock market self-destructing out of enthusiasm?
In summary, the misfortunes of some bring happiness to others: while the American stock market ecosystem, symbolized by Wall Street, is in a dark place right now, it should be noted that it’s Europe that is cashing in .

Cointribune EN
2025/03/21 08:45
Stock Exchange: Wall Street In Turmoil, Europe Takes The Prize
Trump aiding, the European stock market is doing well, while Wall Street is taking hit after hit. Investors are shunning American stocks, scared off by economic policies considered risky. Meanwhile, capital is flowing to Europe, benefiting from a new momentum. With European funds in full ascent, should decision-makers across the Atlantic be worried? All the more so as the trend seems to be accelerating, reinforced by unexpected strategic decisions.
The European markets are experiencing an unprecedented influx of capital, with investors seeking refuge amid American uncertainty. In just one month, European equity funds recorded their largest capital inflows in ten years .
In parallel, the European Central Bank suggests that it may increase its investments in defense and infrastructure, an announcement that enhances the appeal of European markets.
According to data from Bank of America , over $6 billion has flowed into European funds over ten consecutive weeks, a record. Meanwhile, American active funds continue to see their assets shrink, with $1.2 billion exiting in one week. A rotation of capital reminiscent of the shift of 1999, when investors abandoned the United States in favor of Europe.
It is noteworthy that 39% of funds are now overweight in Europe, compared to only 12% last month. A radical change that raises the question: are we witnessing a new golden age of European finance?
Since Trump’s arrival, American markets have experienced recurring instability. According to Bank of America, capital outflows from American funds are reaching unprecedented heights. Indeed, as investors pull their money from US stocks, the latter underperform. The S&P 500 index itself shows signs of weakness compared to the European Stoxx 600.
A few remarkable figures:
Trust in the United States is continuously declining. The renowned investor Warren Buffett recently sold part of his stocks, an alarming signal for American markets.
Furthermore, Bank of America’s study reveals that 69% of fund managers believe that “the stock market exceptionalism” of the United States is coming to an end. Adding to this are the volatility of stock indices such as the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones, making the future seem very uncertain.
Will the Trump administration be able to regain the trust of investors before the situation becomes critical?
Ram Charan, financial analyst, nicely summarizes the situation:
” The stock market is dangerously declining, some speak of Trump turbulence, others of a slowing US economy. ”
If we believe the major banks, the downward trend is just beginning. How far will it go?
The economic malaise in the USA is not limited to traditional stocks. Crypto ETFs are also facing a wave of disaffection. Since January, investors have turned away from American spot Bitcoin ETFs, prompting a flight of $5.5 billion. Meanwhile, European active ETFs are seeing an influx of 33 billion euros, an increase of 16% in one month.
The European dynamic is such that asset management giants like BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs are showing increasing interest in the European ETF market. These companies are looking to diversify their investment offerings on European exchanges, attracted by regulations considered more stable and favorable for financial innovations.
The enthusiasm is such that some experts, like Peter Oppenheimer of Goldman Sachs, estimate that European markets could surpass the United States in active ETFs in the years to come.
According to Global Markets Investor, ” capital in equities is massively leaving the United States to head towards Europe“. A statement that speaks volumes about the ongoing global economic turn. European UCITS funds have recorded record growth in a month, confirming this trend.
Moreover, BlackRock recently announced a strategic repositioning by removing the “ESG” label from 56 of its European ETFs, which could further enhance the influx of investors.
In the long term, could Europe become the hub of financial investments, particularly in the crypto sector?
One thing is certain: the correlation between Wall Street and Bitcoin has never been stronger. Recently, a brutal drop in the American stock market has awakened fears of a major economic crisis . Investors must therefore remain vigilant and carefully monitor market signals.