Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has officially passed House Bill 701 (HB 701), a legislation encouraging the use and self-custody of cryptocurrencies in the state. The bill was met with unanimous approval from both houses of the Kentucky legislature, securing a 91-0 victory in the House on February 28 and a 37-0 win in the Senate on March 13, subsequently receiving the governor’s endorsement.
HB 701, referred to as “An Act relating to blockchain digital assets,” introduces several crucial measures to cultivate a more crypto-friendly atmosphere in Kentucky. The legislation ensures the right of individuals to own and manage their crypto assets in self-hosted wallets, allowing Kentucky residents full control over their digital currencies without external intervention.
The law forbids local authorities from implementing prejudiced regulations that unfairly target cryptocurrency mining operations. It also stipulates that mining and staking services will not be considered securities under Kentucky law. Moreover, the operation of blockchain nodes and participation in staking activities are expressly exempt from Kentucky’s money transmitter regulations.
This development reflects a wider trend across the U.S., as states increasingly embrace cryptocurrency amidst rising institutional and retail adoption. Utah recently passed a similar law, incorporating cryptocurrencies into its legal framework and supporting the involvement of its citizens in crypto and blockchain-related activities.
In addition, Kentucky is considering another proposal, House Bill 376 (KY HB376), which suggests the creation of a state crypto reserve. This bill proposes to authorize the State Investment Commission to invest up to 10% of surplus state reserves into digital assets with a market cap exceeding $750 billion, effectively bitcoin. However, this proposal has not yet passed into law and is still under review.
The legislative process in Kentucky necessitates a bill to be approved by both the House and Senate, followed by the governor’s signature. HB376, which proposes a bitcoin reserve, is yet to be voted on by the House.
