Bitcoin is Secure
Bitcoin's security is ensured through its decentralized network of nodes, which collectively validate transactions using a consensus mechanism called proof-of-work, making it resistant to tampering and fraud.
Bitcoin is Sound
Bitcoin is considered sound money due to its fixed supply limit of 21 million coins, which prevents inflation and ensures scarcity, akin to traditional forms of sound money like gold.
Bitcoin is Accessible
Bitcoin is accessible to everyone because it operates on a decentralized network, allowing anyone with an internet connection to participate, regardless of geographic location or financial status.
Bitcoin is Empowering
Bitcoin provides individuals with control over their own financial assets, free from traditional banking systems and centralized authorities.
Bitcoin on a Technical Level
Bitcoin works by using a decentralized network of computers (nodes) that validate transactions through a consensus mechanism called proof-of-work, where miners solve complex cryptographic puzzles to add blocks of transactions to the blockchain, ensuring security and immutability without a central authority.
- Bitcoin cannot be inflated.
- Bitcoin cannot be stolen.
- Bitcoin cannot be double spent.
Bitcoin is an intersection of many different fields of study, which can make it seem unapproachable and extremely complex. But at its core, Bitcoin can be understood through six mechanisms.
Users
Users create the 'layer zero' of the network and enforce the idea of Bitcoin through social activism, network participation, and economic incentives.
Nodes
Nodes are the redundant backbone of the network. They store the entire history of Bitcoin and allow anyone to easily validate blocks and verify transactions for themselves.
Miners
Miners compete using real-world energy and computational resources to find the next block and earn the block reward. This competition secures Bitcoin and prevents bad actors from tampering with the network.
Proof-of-Work
Proof-of-work is the Bitcoin consensus mechanism in which miners try to find hashes with enough difficulty to create a new valid block. The first miner to solve this puzzle earns new Bitcoin, plus transaction fees.
Difficulty Adjustment
The network automatically adjusts the complexity of the proof-of-work puzzle every 2,016 blocks to ensure that new blocks are mined approximately every 10 minutes, regardless of changes in network hashing power.
Private/Public Key Pairs
Private/public key cryptography enables users to securely sign transactions with their private key while others can verify the authenticity of those transactions using the corresponding public key, ensuring both security and ownership.
The Bitcoin Dashboard
Learn more about the state of the network by exploring some live statistics on the Bitcoin Dashboard.
Policies
We believe that through thoughtful education and transparent policies, Vermont can harness the transformative potential of Bitcoin to stimulate economic growth, promote financial inclusion, and empower individuals with greater control over their wealth.
Right to Self-Custody and Bitcoin Software Use Enshrined in Law
Enshrining the right to self-custody and run Bitcoin software ensures individuals maintain full control over their financial assets, protecting privacy, independence, and access to the network.
State Allocation to Bitcoin
Allowing Vermont to invest a small percentage of its state treasury and pension funds in Bitcoin would diversify assets, hedge against inflation, and strengthen financial security for retirees while enhancing the state's sovereignty.
Treat Bitcoin as Foreign Currency for Tax Purposes
We propose that Vermont classify Bitcoin as a foreign currency for tax purposes, exempting Bitcoin transactions from capital gains taxes like other foreign currencies, which would reduce the tax burden, encourage its use as a medium of exchange, and foster a Bitcoin-friendly environment, while also streamlining tax reporting and keeping Vermont competitive.
Create Bitcoin-Friendly Banking Regulations
We propose creating legal provisions for Bitcoin-friendly banking in Vermont to ensure financial institutions cannot deny services to Bitcoin users, promoting innovation, financial independence, and access to Bitcoin for all residents, while maintaining privacy and protecting against future regulations.
Establish Educational Programs and Public Awareness Initiatives
To promote Bitcoin adoption and financial independence, Vermont should establish state-sponsored educational programs and update school curricula to teach Bitcoin basics and its role in the economy, ensuring residents of all ages understand and can engage with this emerging financial system.
More About Our Philosophies
Click here to learn more about our specific policies, as well as view other Bitcoin policy from around the nation.
Why Vermont
Vermonts unique demographics, history, and size make it an ideal state for Bitcoin adoption.
Contact Your Representative
Take action today by contacting your state representatives and urging them to support policies that promote Bitcoin adoption, financial independence, and innovation in Vermont.
About Us
Our Mission
At Bitcoin Policy Vermont, we are dedicated to educating the public about the importance of Bitcoin and its potential to transform Vermont’s economy and society.
We believe that Bitcoin represents more than just a technological innovation. It is a new financial paradigm with the power to reshape how we think about money, freedom, and self-sovereignty. Vermont, with its rich history of innovation and community-driven initiatives, is uniquely positioned to lead in this movement. By embracing Bitcoin, we can empower individuals, businesses, and institutions to have greater financial independence, reduce reliance on centralized systems, and foster a more resilient local economy.
Our mission is to bring awareness to the opportunities that Bitcoin presents — whether through financial inclusion for the unbanked, secure savings for families, or the support of small businesses that wish to operate beyond traditional banking constraints. We aim to educate lawmakers, business leaders, and citizens alike about how Bitcoin can protect Vermont's economic future and promote long-term sustainability in an increasingly digital world.
As we look toward the future, Bitcoin Policy Vermont is committed to advocating for sound policies that support Bitcoin’s adoption. By working alongside policymakers, regulators, and Vermont residents, we seek to create a legislative environment that encourages innovation while protecting individual freedoms. Our goal is to ensure that Vermont not only participates in the Bitcoin revolution but thrives because of it.
Our Team
Bitcoin Policy Vermont is a project started by two brothers who grew up in the Chittenden County area. After studying traditional Keynesian economics and working through school, it became clear that there were significant structural problems with how our economic system functions. Growing up after 2008 taught us that some companies and financial institutions can be deemed too big to fail, while the average person bears the costs of their negligence. Our goal is to transform our local economy into one far less reliant on these giant bailouts and big corporations. We want to see Vermont become a prosperous state with robust small businesses and a stable monetary foundation. Bitcoin is our tool to enact change, and we aim to bring our ideas to a larger local stage.
Reading Resources
Dive into the history of Bitcoin and the economic ideas which inspired it.
All
Articles
Books
Contact
Email us with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
Email Us
bitcoinpolicyvt@gmail.com