In Indiana, Governor Mike Braun approved House Bill 1042 (HB 1042), which opens the door to cryptocurrency investments in public pension and savings plans, to be implemented on March 3, 2026. With the enactment of the law, state employees, teachers, and other public sector workers will have direct access to Bitcoin and other crypto assets in their pension accounts. The law mandates self-directed brokerage accounts for the state's public pension boards, deferred remuneration committees, savings programs (including Hoosier START), legislature-defined contribution plans, public employees' pension funds, and teachers' pension funds. These accounts must offer participants at least one cryptocurrency investment option. The implementation deadline is set for July 1, 2027. It will be an entirely opt-in system for participants; the state's aggregate funds will not be automatically directed to crypto. The Indiana Public Pension System (INPRS) manages approximately $55 billion in assets. With the enactment of the law, a portion of these funds may be directed to crypto assets and spot Bitcoin ETFs based on individual preferences. Republican Representative Kyle Pierce, one of the bill's authors, defended the law, saying, "This regulation offers Hoosiers modern investment options and prevents discrimination against crypto assets." The law doesn't only cover retirement investments. Titled "Cryptocurrency Regulation and Investment," the regulation also prohibits local governments from restricting crypto-related activities (mining, self-custody wallets, legal tenders) and prevents discriminatory taxation on crypto assets. Thus, Indiana became the first state in the US to mandate crypto options in public retirement plans. The law went into effect immediately after Governor Braun signed it; however, full integration of brokerage accounts will be completed by the summer of 2027. Analysts say this step could set an example for other states and accelerate institutional crypto adoption. Bitcoin's price was around $69,000 when the law was signed. This development makes Indiana stand out among crypto-friendly states. Retirement plan participants will now have access to digital assets in addition to traditional stock and bond options. The full text of the law has been published publicly on the Indiana General Assembly website.