US State of Pennsylvania recently became the latest to
pass a bill that aims to bring clarity to the world of crypto space, Fox
Business reported. The legislation came as the federal government continues to
debate how to regulate cryptocurrency. On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 2481, also known as the
Bitcoin Rights Bill.
A Major Step Toward Crypto Clarity
The legislation ensures that Pennsylvania residents
have the right to self-custody their digital assets, use Bitcoin as a payment method, and provides guidelines for taxing these transactions. With
bipartisan backing, the bill sailed through with a vote of 176 to 26, showing
support from both sides of the aisle.
This legislative push comes as federal
authorities are still grappling with how to regulate the rapidly growing $2
trillion digital asset market. Uncertainty remains over which federal agency should
take the lead, whether it’s the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), further complicating crypto’s
regulatory landscape.
Crypto ownership in Pennsylvania has surged in recent
years, with approximately 1.5 million residents now holding some form of
digital asset. This rise, accounting for roughly 12% of the state’s population,
reflects the national trend of increased interest in digital assets as a means
of investment and transaction.
The Growing Crypto Movement
The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Mike Cabell,
described the legislation as a way to secure financial freedom for
Pennsylvanians who want to use and invest in digital assets like Bitcoin.
Pennsylvania’s move to regulate digital assets aligns
with a broader trend seen across the United States. The bill was reportedly
crafted with help from the Satoshi Action Fund, a Bitcoin advocacy group that
has successfully pushed for similar legislation in 20 other states.
Meanwhile, the ongoing race for the White House
between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is also
heating up in Pennsylvania. Both candidates are neck and neck in the polls, and
the growing community of crypto investors represents a new and important voting
bloc.
Meanwhile, investors in the US are reportedly turning
to digital assets in record numbers amid the uncertainty related to the
upcoming US elections. According to CoinShares’ report, a turn in the opinion
polls favoring Republicans who are perceived as more supportive of digital
assets…
