Pennsylvania’s Landmark Crypto Bill Advances with Strong Bipartisan Support
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed House Bill 2481, known as the “Bitcoin Rights Bill,” with a decisive 176-26 vote. The legislation establishes comprehensive protections for digital asset usage and custody rights across the state.
The bill, crafted by the bitcoin advocacy group Satoshi Action Fund, secured strong bipartisan backing with unanimous support from all 100 Republican members and 76 Democrats joining in favor. It explicitly protects residents’ rights to self-custody digital assets, ensures their ability to use bitcoin as a payment method, and provides clear guidelines for taxing cryptocurrency transactions.
The legislation’s timing is particularly significant given Pennsylvania’s status as a crucial battleground state in the upcoming presidential election. Approximately 1.5 million Pennsylvania residents, or roughly 12% of the state’s population, own some form of digital asset, potentially making cryptocurrency policy a decisive issue for voters.
Dennis Porter, founder of the Satoshi Action Fund, emphasized the bill’s political significance: “Pennsylvania is the most important battleground state in the presidential race, and the outcome could hinge on a small handful of voters. The bitcoin vote represents a new, growing voter bloc actively searching for a political home.”
The bill now moves to the Republican-led Pennsylvania Senate for consideration after the election. If passed and signed by Governor Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania would join states like Oklahoma, Louisiana, Montana, and Arkansas in establishing clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
- Protection of residents’ rights to self-custody digital assets using hardware or self-hosted wallets
- Authorization for businesses to accept digital assets as payment for legal goods and services
- Prevention of discriminatory taxation on cryptocurrency transactions
- Explicit exclusion of central bank digital currencies from its scope
The strong bipartisan support for the bill reflects a broader trend in U.S. politics, where cryptocurrency regulation has emerged as a rare unifying issue. This state-level initiative comes as federal regulators continue to grapple with establishing coherent nationwide cryptocurrency policies.
