Vancouver’s city council has voted in favor of exploring the use of BTC in municipal finances, marking a significant step toward making the city “Bitcoin-friendly.”
Mayor Ken Sim introduced the motion, which passed on Wednesday with strong support from six councilors. Two voted against it, and three were absent.
Vancouver to Explore Bitcoin Integration
The mayor’s initiative aims to explore Bitcoin as a potential safeguard against inflation and currency devaluation. In a statement, Sim, who is an investor in cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, said that the city must adapt to global financial shifts, especially given its growing affordability crisis.
The city’s housing market saw a staggering 381% increase in value between 1995 and 2022, while traditional assets like gold and city securities failed to provide comparable returns. In contrast, Bitcoin has offered substantial returns over the past decade, and Sim believes it could play a crucial role in stabilizing the city’s finances amid inflation and the devaluation of traditional currency.
In an interview with the Canadian news outlet Global News right before the vote, Sim was quoted saying.
“Bitcoin is the number one performing asset on the planet over the last 16 years, so to not even look at including it as a part of a diversified portfolio is, I think, reckless.”
Sim’s motion calls for a report by the end of the first quarter of 2025 to assess the feasibility, risks, and benefits of Bitcoin adoption. Despite the support, the proposal faced opposition from Councilor Pete Fry, who raised concerns about Bitcoin’s potential for misuse in criminal activities and its environmental impact due to high energy consumption from mining.
To demonstrate his commitment, Sim has pledged a $10,000 donation in Bitcoin to the city, regardless of the outcome. He had said,
“Our family is going to donate $10,000 to the City of Vancouver in the form of bitcoin and this is going to be a gift to the city that we love. We totally believe in the benefits of this and we’re putting our money where our mouth is.”
Hurdles Ahead
Although the motion has passed, challenges remain, particularly with legal restrictions that prevent municipalities from holding cryptocurrency as reserves. The provincial government has also clarified that local authorities are not authorized to use Bitcoin for transactions or investments under current law.
Following the development, the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs highlighted that existing provincial laws, including the Community Charter and Vancouver Charter, prohibit the use of cryptocurrencies for municipal payments or transactions.
Local governments are also restricted from holding cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in reserves, as legislation dictates that public funds can only be invested in low-risk, approved options to ensure financial stability.
