The parliament of the Swiss canton of Bern has passed a motion to commission a report on Bitcoin mining. The canton’s Government Council, its executive authority, has already voiced its opposition to the report — and Bitcoin mining — but supporters are calling this a victory.
The pros and cons of Swiss BTC mining
The report was proposed by the multiparty Bitcoin Parliamentary Group, consisting of 23 members. It passed by a vote of 85 to 46.
The report will consider where excess energy could be sourced in the canton, potential collaboration with Swiss Bitcoin miners and the potential for Bitcoin mining to add stability to the electricity grid.
According to the local publication Bitcoin Trainer, the group looked at the US state of Texas as a potential model for integrating Bitcoin (BTC) mining into state energy policy. By encouraging Bitcoin mining, the canton could attract mining companies and jobs to the region, promote renewable energy and stabilize the grid, the group reasoned.
The proposal to commission the report was introduced in March as one of several initiatives the parliamentary group has advanced. In September, the Government Council recommended against the proposal. Canton member of parliament Samuel Kullmann said in an X post:
“Even though the debate was heavily influenced by classic FUD arguments and missed the point, the proposal ultimately found a clear majority. […] This result is an expression of the fact that the narrative on Bitcoin is changing.”
According to Bitcoin Trainer, the Government Council said that energy use in Bern Canton is an international, not local, issue since the region exports energy. In addition, energy consumption from other types of data centers is growing and energy storage technology is developing. Moreover, Bitcoin mining is subject to market trends, and Bitcoin is not legal tender, so it is not under the control of the Swiss National Bank.
Switzerland is pro-crypto regardless
Dennis Porter, co-founder of the Satoshi Action Fund and founder of Satoshi Action Education, took part in the preparation of the proposal for the report. Porter was also instrumental in the drafting of the so-called “Bitcoin rights” legislation that passed in the US state of Pennsylvania in October.
Source: Samuel Kullmann
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has frequently praised Switzerland for its pro-crypto stance. The famously pro-crypto city of Lugano, Switzerland, hosts the annual Plan B Forum, and the city of Zug is home to the Ethereum Foundation and numerous blockchain companies.
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