Vancouver Champions Bitcoin: City Council Approves Motion

The Vancouver City Council approved a motion to explore integrating Bitcoin into its financial operations. The measure, introduced by Mayor Ken Sim and passed at the December 11, 2024 Standing Committee meeting, directs staff to investigate accepting BTC for city taxes and fees and the feasibility of incorporating it into the city’s financial reserves.

The motion secured support from six councilors, while two opposed and three were absent. The decision represents only the initial step toward assessing Bitcoin’s potential role in safeguarding the City of Vancouver’s purchasing power.

Next Bitcoin City?

Mayor Ken Sim emphasized that the initiative is exploratory rather than a firm commitment. He stated: “I’m in motion that could help protect Vancouver’s financial future for the next 100 years and keep life affordable for our residents, becoming a Bitcoin-friendly city.”

According to Mayor Sim, the move would examine whether Bitcoin could serve as a hedge against inflation and currency debasement, issues he highlighted as undermining the long-term value of the city’s traditional reserves. “That means the money we save today will not buy as much in the future,” said Sim.

In remarks made prior to the vote, Mayor Sim offered a robust defense of BTC’s attributes: “Bitcoin, on the other hand, is a digital asset that works differently. It’s decentralized, meaning it’s not controlled by any one person, government, or corporation, and its supply is finite.” He went on to note the asset’s historical performance: “Over the last 16 years, Bitcoin has been the best performing financial asset on the planet, and major companies and countries and cities are starting to use it as a way to protect their financial resources.”

The mayor referenced diverse global jurisdictions—ranging from El Salvador and Bhutan to Pennsylvania and ongoing considerations at the US federal level—each exploring or adopting Bitcoin-based strategies. He emphasized Vancouver’s unique position given its established blockchain community, noting: “Vancouver is already known for its blockchain community and history with cryptocurrency. This motion allows us to explore whether Bitcoin can help us safeguard our financial resources and offer new options like letting people, unbanked individuals, pay for city fees in Bitcoin.”

The motion itself outlines a comprehensive path forward. It instructs city staff to study the implications of accepting BTC for taxes and fees, as well as the possibility of converting a portion of Vancouver’s reserves into Bitcoin. It also mandates consultations with financial advisors, cryptocurrency experts, and other stakeholders.

The framework for managing and potentially liquidating BTC, should the city proceed, will be developed with a focus on “full transparency and accountability.” A report on the findings and feasibility is due by the end of Q1 2025.

The motion underscores that other jurisdictions have already taken steps toward BTC integration. Examples include Zug, Switzerland—often dubbed “Crypto Valley”—where Bitcoin has been accepted for municipal services and taxes; Seoul, South Korea, which explores blockchain integration in municipal operations; and El Salvador’s decision to adopt BTC as legal tender.

The Vancouver motion also emphasizes Bitcoin’s potential environmental and infrastructural contributions. It notes that BTC mining can utilize low-cost, excess renewable energy, stabilizing energy grids and reducing emissions. From a financial perspective, proponents argue that Bitcoin diversification could preserve the value of public funds in times of inflation or economic instability, potentially benefiting taxpayers and signaling Vancouver’s leadership and “willingness to embrace innovation.”

In closing, Mayor Sim reiterated the exploratory nature of the initiative: “I do want to stress that this motion does not mean that we are committing to anything today. It’s about studying the possibilities, understanding the risks, and seeing if this could be a smart move for Vancouver’s future.”

At press time, BTC traded at $100.817.

Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com