The Ohio State Board of Deposit has given final approval for residents to pay state fees and services using cryptocurrency.
On Wednesday, the board unanimously cleared the last hurdle by selecting a vendor to process crypto transactions, including Bitcoin.
The decision concludes a months-long effort that began in April, when Secretary of State Frank LaRose and State Treasurer Robert Sprague urged the board to consider crypto payment options.
In May, the proposal won unanimous board support, but it required final vendor approval before implementation. That step was completed this week, clearing the path for digital payments.
“This is exactly why Ohio consistently ranks among the best states to do business,” LaRose said in a statement. “We are not afraid to embrace new tools and technologies that encourage investment and growth.”
Rising Demand for Digital Options
LaRose emphasized that his office processes hundreds of thousands of filings each year, from business registrations to campaign finance reports. According to him, many customers have requested an easier way to pay using cryptocurrency.
“I’ve heard the demand firsthand,” LaRose explained. “Ohioans are asking for a crypto option, and I’m proud we’re now the first to provide it.”
The development quickly drew attention from the digital asset community. In a social media post, Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal hailed the move, writing: “Government payments in Ohio today. Everything on-chain tomorrow.”
Ohio Broader Push into Digital Assets
The vendor approval is just one part of Ohio’s growing digital asset agenda. In June, the state House advanced the Ohio Blockchain Basics Act, a measure that prevents local governments from restricting the use of digital assets. The law also exempts crypto transactions under $200 from capital gains tax reporting, easing adoption for small users.
Meanwhile, LaRose has also thrown his support behind House Bill 18, which seeks to create an Ohio Strategic Crypto Reserve. The reserve would be funded by a share of the state’s investment earnings and would hold digital assets as part of Ohio’s broader financial strategy.
National Landscape of Crypto Reserves
Ohio’s activity comes amid a wave of state-level initiatives to integrate Bitcoin into public policy. According to the Bitcoin Laws tracker, 47 states have introduced Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) proposals. Of those, about 26 remain under active discussion.
Some states have acted more quickly than others. Arizona, Texas, and New Hampshire are among those advancing legislation furthest, while most others are still stuck in committee reviews.
However, in Michigan, momentum has recently shifted. After seven months of inaction, lawmakers advanced House Bill 4087 to the Government Operations Committee this week, reviving the state’s push for a Bitcoin reserve.
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