Roswell Breaks Ground: First U.S. City to Adopt Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset

In a landmark move signaling the growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin, Roswell, New Mexico

Written by: Sophia Cruz • Thursday, May 1, 2025 • 2 min read

• Last updated: Thursday, May 1, 2025

Quick overview

Roswell, New Mexico, has become the first U.S. city to adopt Bitcoin as a municipal reserve asset.
The city received an initial donation of 3,050,323 satoshis to kickstart its Bitcoin reserves, with plans for a 'Bitcoin Emergency Fund' once reserves exceed $1 million.
This initiative is prompting discussions among other municipalities and lawmakers about the potential for Bitcoin at the federal level.
Roswell's move signifies a shift in perception, viewing Bitcoin as a viable tool for long-term financial resilience rather than just a speculative asset.

In a landmark move signaling the growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin, Roswell, New Mexico, has officially become the first city in the United States to adopt Bitcoin as a municipal reserve asset.

The initiative, announced on April 29, 2025, positions Roswell at the forefront of a new wave of public-sector engagement with digital currencies.

The city’s treasury received an initial donation of 3,050,323 satoshis—just under $3,000 at the time of deposit—as a symbolic launchpad for its Bitcoin reserves. According to city officials, this reserve is intended for long-term holding, with a larger vision in place: the creation of a “Bitcoin Emergency Fund” once the reserves exceed $1 million. The fund aims to serve as a financial backstop during periods of economic uncertainty, highlighting Bitcoin’s perceived role as a hedge against inflation and centralized monetary policy.

Roswell’s bold step is already sparking conversations among other municipalities and state-level policymakers. In recent months, political sentiment toward Bitcoin has shifted considerably, with bipartisan discussions surfacing around the possibility of the U.S. embracing Bitcoin at a federal level. Some lawmakers are calling for clearer regulatory frameworks and a deeper exploration into Bitcoin-backed fiscal strategies.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $96,334, up 1.8% over the past 24 hours. The price has fluctuated between $93,287 and $96,363 within the day—yet another reminder of Bitcoin’s well-known volatility, even as it continues to gain mainstream traction. Despite this, Roswell’s move is being celebrated in the crypto community as a powerful endorsement of Bitcoin’s role beyond private investment portfolios.

Whether Roswell’s initiative marks the beginning of a broader trend remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Bitcoin is no longer just a speculative asset or a technological curiosity. It’s being actively considered as a serious tool for long-term financial resilience—and now, municipal strategy.

Check out our free forex signals
Follow the top economic events on FX Leaders economic calendar
Trade better, discover more Forex Trading Strategies
Open a FREE Trading Account

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More

Sophia Cruz

Financial Writer - Asian & European Desks

Sophia is an experienced writer, reporter and newsdesk member, mostly on the financial sectors. For the past 5 years Sophia has covered a wide variety of topics such as the financial markets, economics, technology, fin-tech and trading. Sophia has been a part of the FX Leaders team since 2017 and works on producing valuable content and information for traders of all levels of experience.