State Cryptocurrency Campaign Finance Laws: Complete Guide 2026

Key Takeaways:

13 states and Washington, DC have expressly authorized cryptocurrency marketing campaign donations, whereas 5 states prohibit them, leaving 34 states with out clear insurance policies on whether or not political campaigns can settle for Bitcoin or different digital currencies.
Michigan lately finalized a rule banning political committees from accepting cryptocurrency donations, whereas Arizona printed steering permitting PACs to just accept in-kind contributions within the type of cryptocurrency reminiscent of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin.
States that let cryptocurrency donations usually require quick conversion to U.S. {dollars}, with most treating them as in-kind contributions that should be reported at truthful market worth on the time of receipt.
Kansas has repeatedly thought of laws on cryptocurrency marketing campaign finance, together with payments that might have prohibited crypto contributions and others that might have established a regulatory framework, however none have handed.
The Federal Election Fee licensed cryptocurrency use in marketing campaign finance in 2014, and states like California, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, and Texas have since adopted insurance policies allowing cryptocurrency contributions with varied restrictions and reporting necessities.

Extra states have begun regulating cryptocurrency use in marketing campaign finance. For the uninitiated, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are digital currencies that use blockchain technology—a kind of distributed ledger—to file and confirm transactions. Cryptocurrencies usually are not authorized tender underneath federal legislation, however they are often exchanged for or transformed into conventional currencies such because the U.S. greenback.

Most lately, the Michigan Division of State issued a rule prohibiting political committees from accepting cryptocurrency donations. This rule follows a 2018 advisory opinion that banned cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions. Moreover, the Arizona Division of State printed campaign finance guidance this yr permitting political motion committees (PACs) to just accept in-kind contributions “within the type of cryptocurrency reminiscent of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin.”

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Present State Legal guidelines on Cryptocurrency in Campaign Finance

Due to the fragmented nature of American elections and marketing campaign finance laws, the U.S. at present has a patchwork of state legal guidelines governing using cryptocurrencies and fee apps in marketing campaign finance. The Federal Election Fee (FEC) led the way in which in authorizing using cryptocurrencies in 2014, and extra states have adopted swimsuit.

Presently, right here is the place states stand on accepting cryptocurrency donations for political campaigns:

13 states and D.C. have expressly authorized cryptocurrency use for marketing campaign donations. In some states, marketing campaign finance legal guidelines don’t expressly tackle cryptocurrency contributions, leaving their legality much less sure. In Georgia, for instance, former State Ethics Fee Government Director David Emadi said cryptocurrency contributions are authorized, however Georgia has not enacted a coverage explicitly authorizing or banning cryptocurrency contributions.
5 states prohibit cryptocurrency use in marketing campaign finance.
The remaining 34 states haven’t enacted laws or laws to allow cryptocurrency use, leaving its legality in state and native elections questionable.

Defining Key Phrases

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a digital or digital foreign money that makes use of cryptography for safety and operates on decentralized networks based mostly on blockchain know-how. In contrast to conventional currencies, cryptocurrencies usually are not issued by a government and will be exchanged or transformed into government-issued cash such because the U.S. greenback. Well-liked examples embody Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Current Modifications in State Insurance policies

This map has modified since MultiState final reviewed state insurance policies on cryptocurrency use in elections. California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Montana, New York and Texas have all adopted insurance policies to allow the acceptance of cryptocurrencies by candidates and political motion committees. Conversely, Maryland and South Carolina have gone in the wrong way and adopted insurance policies prohibiting cryptocurrency contributions.

States Contemplating Motion on Cryptocurrency Campaign Donations

Whereas most states haven’t explicitly permitted or banned cryptocurrency donations, just a few have repeatedly thought of the difficulty. For instance, the Kansas Governmental Ethics Fee concluded in 2022 that state legislation didn’t tackle cryptocurrency donations and urged lawmakers to allow cryptocurrency donations with contribution limits and different restrictions. The Kansas legislature subsequently launched payments that might have prohibited cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions (HB 2535) and established a framework for accepting crypto (SB 310), however each payments failed. In Illinois, cryptocurrency contributions are at present a authorized grey space. Whereas candidates have beforehand accepted cryptocurrency from donors, neither the State Board of Elections nor the Basic Meeting has supplied formal steering on the observe.

In Wisconsin, the state ethics fee held a public hearing in 2018 on steering for cryptocurrency use in political campaigns, however referred the matter to the legislature. As of September 2026, the legislature has not developed a regulatory or legislative framework for cryptocurrencies aside from amending the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act to deal with the disposition of digital currencies. Louisiana thought of cryptocurrency donations by adopting House Resolution 180, which directed the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure to “research points surrounding acceptance of marketing campaign contributions in cryptocurrency.”

The Oklahoma Ethics Fee additionally reviewed crypto use in marketing campaign finance by accepting an advisory opinion request on whether or not marketing campaign committees may settle for digital foreign money, digital foreign money, or cryptocurrency contributions. The request, obtained in August 2019, stays listed as an Advisory Opinion Request on the present Ethics Commission page moderately than an advisory opinion. Lastly, Wyoming’s Choose Committee on Blockchain, Monetary Know-how and Digital Innovation considered in June 2022 whether or not state politicians may settle for cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions. The dialogue contemplated a potential framework, together with valuing cryptocurrency on the time of contribution, however made no formal advice.

State-by-State Standing of Cryptocurrency Donations

Under is a desk denoting the states which have permitted or banned cryptocurrency donations. Reviewing state laws, laws, and advisory opinions via September 2026, it’s evident that many states are specializing in adopting frameworks to accommodate cryptocurrencies (e.g., taxation, allowing businesses to just accept cryptocurrency as fee). As these states set up frameworks and extra donors contribute cryptocurrency to candidates, we count on states will proceed regulating how political campaigns work together with this novel kind of donation.

State	Standing
Arizona	In February 2026, the Division of State printed campaign finance guidance for PACs, stating that PACs could settle for in-kind contributions “within the type of cryptocurrency reminiscent of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin.” The information added that cryptocurrency contributions are “usually topic to the identical guidelines” as money contributions and known as cryptocurrency contributions a type of “digital switch” underneath A.R.S. § 16-907.
California	In 2022, the Honest Political Practices Fee (FPPC) adopted Regulation 18421.2, reversing a former ban on making and receiving cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions. Regulation 18421.2 permits people to make cryptocurrency contributions and committees to request such contributions “if the cryptocurrency is transformed to {dollars} upon the making of the contribution.” Cryptocurrency contributions should be made and obtained via a qualifying U.S.-based cryptocurrency fee processor, topic to contributor verification and knowledge gathering necessities. In 2024, FPPC amended the rule to require reporting cryptocurrency contributions as financial contributions, moderately than as in-kind contributions.
Colorado	In August 2018, the Secretary of State finalized a rule allowing the acceptance of cryptocurrency for marketing campaign finance functions. The rule permits varied types of committees (e.g., candidate committees, political committees, political events, and so on.) to just accept cryptocurrency contributions as much as the “acceptable restrict for a money or coin contribution.” Aligned with the FEC ruling Advisory Opinion 2014-02, this rule states that the quantity of a contribution that should be reported is the worth of the cryptocurrency on the time of the contribution. Committees should report any features or losses after the contribution (i.e., throughout money conversion) as different earnings or receipts.
Georgia	After a number of candidates for state workplace accepted cryptocurrency donations in 2022, former Government Director of the State Ethics Fee David Emadi stated that cryptocurrency contributions are authorized, supplied that committees instantly convert the donations into arduous foreign money to keep away from exceeding contribution limits. Whereas this assertion constitutes casual steering, Georgia at present has no statute or formal advisory opinion that explicitly authorizes or bans cryptocurrency contributions. Underneath its present campaign finance law, the time period “contribution” is broadly outlined and consists of “something of worth conveyed or transferred for the aim of influencing the nomination for election or election of any individual for workplace.”
Iowa	In February 2022, the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) issued Advisory Opinion 2022-01, which concluded that committees could settle for cryptocurrency donations as in-kind contributions. Cryptocurrency contributions should be reported on Schedule E (in accordance with the statute, Iowa Admin. Code r. 351-4.17) and embody the title and tackle of the contributor, in addition to “the truthful market worth of the contribution as of the date of the contribution.” AO 2022-01 additionally states that committees usually are not required to report modifications within the worth of an in-kind contribution. The opinion provides, nonetheless, that when a committee liquidates a cryptocurrency, the treasurer should “deposit the proceeds within the committee’s checking account inside seven days” and report the proceeds as a contribution.
Maryland	In April 2023, Maryland enacted legislation banning people and marketing campaign finance entities from making or accepting financial contributions made utilizing cryptocurrency.
Massachusetts	In January 2014, the Workplace of Campaign and Political Finance issued an advisory opinion clarifying that political committees could settle for contributions in Bitcoins, topic to limits and supply restrictions relevant to all contributions. Committees should liquidate Bitcoins inside 5 days, report financial contributions because the gross quantity obtained, and never use Bitcoins to make expenditures.
Michigan	In November 2018, the Michigan Division of State issued an advisory opinion prohibiting using cryptocurrency for marketing campaign contributions. Michigan additionally finalized a rule in June 2026 that explicitly prohibited political committees from accepting cryptocurrency donations.
Minnesota	In 2023, Minnesota enacted Chapter 62 (House File 1830), which permits principal marketing campaign committees, political committees, political funds, and social gathering models to just accept in-kind digital foreign money contributions. The statute requires using U.S.-based digital foreign money fee processors for digital foreign money contributions, contributor-verification procedures, and the conversion of digital foreign money to U.S. foreign money inside 5 enterprise days.
Montana	In a 2014 advisory opinion, Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl decided that campaigns could settle for Bitcoin contributions as a result of Montana legislation defines a contribution to incorporate “something of worth.” Motl added that Bitcoin should be valued and transformed to U.S. {dollars} or used for an in-kind buy upon receipt, and campaigns could not keep Bitcoin wallets to build up marketing campaign sources. Extra lately, Montana amended the Digital Contributions Act in 2019 to require reporting contributions via a “fee gateway” reminiscent of Bitcoin.
New York	In March 2026, the New York State Board of Elections approved Formal Opinion 26-01, which permits political committees to just accept cryptocurrency contributions as in-kind contributions, supplied that they aren’t nameless. Any committees receiving bitcoin contributions should report the worth of the contribution “based mostly available on the market worth of bitcoin on the time the contribution is obtained.”
North Carolina	In July 2018, the State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement launched an advisory opinion prohibiting using cryptocurrencies in marketing campaign finance.
Ohio	In September 2025, the Secretary of State launched guidance allowing cryptocurrency donations, topic to a person contribution restrict of $13,704.41 per election interval (in accordance with the statute, ORC Section 3517.102). Committees receiving cryptocurrency should establish the donor, report the worth of the asset “on the time of receipt as an in-kind contribution,” and “report the full sale worth of the cryptocurrency asset when the committee converts the cryptocurrency to money.”
Oregon	In Could 2019, Governor Kate Brown (D) signed HB 2488, which prohibits cryptocurrency contributions to political candidates, political committees, or petition committees.
South Carolina	In April 2018, the Home Legislative Ethics Committee issued an advisory opinion concluding that “no Bitcoin could also be accepted as a marketing campaign contribution” as a result of state legislation didn’t embody digital or digital foreign money in its definition of “contribution.” In January 2021, the State Ethics Fee issued an advisory opinion declaring that candidates for public workplace could not settle for cryptocurrency contributions.
Tennessee	In April 2015, Tennessee amended its marketing campaign finance legislation to permit campaigns to just accept “digital foreign money” as a type of contribution. These contributions are thought of financial contributions and their worth is outlined as “the market worth of the digital foreign money on the time the contribution is obtained.”
Texas	In June 2023, the Texas Ethics Fee adopted the rule §22.37 – Virtual Currency Contributions, which allows candidates, officeholders, and political committees to just accept cryptocurrency contributions. Underneath the ultimate rule, cryptocurrency contributions are thought of in-kind contributions, aligning with how the FEC classifies these donations. Moreover, the rule requires candidates, officeholders, and political committees to report a achieve from the sale of the cryptocurrency if the achieve exceeds $140. Lastly, the rule states that the reportable worth of a digital foreign money contribution is “the truthful market worth of the cryptocurrency upon receipt.”
Washington	In October 2018, the Public Disclosure Fee launched guidance permitting political campaigns to just accept cryptocurrency contributions. Underneath the steering, cryptocurrency donations are restricted to $100, and should be transformed to authorized tender and deposited in a marketing campaign checking account inside 5 enterprise days of receipt.
Washington, DC	Campaign finance legislation in Washington, DC (3 DCMR § 3008.9) permits Bitcoin contributions, requiring them to be reported as in-kind contributions and marked as obtained on the date the contribution is liquidated into U.S. {dollars}.
Federal	The FEC has permitted cryptocurrency contributions to political committees since 2014.

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Often Requested Questions

Which states at present ban cryptocurrency marketing campaign donations?

5 states prohibit cryptocurrency use in marketing campaign finance: Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, and South Carolina. Maryland handed laws in April 2023 banning cryptocurrency contributions, whereas Michigan finalized a rule in June 2026 explicitly prohibiting political committees from accepting such donations. Oregon handed HB 2488 in Could 2019, and each North Carolina and South Carolina issued advisory opinions in 2018 and 2021 respectively declaring cryptocurrency contributions impermissible underneath their marketing campaign finance legal guidelines.

Can political campaigns in California settle for Bitcoin donations?

Sure, California permits cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions via Regulation 18421.2, which the Honest Political Practices Fee adopted in 2022. The cryptocurrency should be transformed to {dollars} upon receipt via a qualifying U.S.-based cryptocurrency fee processor, and committees should adjust to contributor verification and knowledge gathering necessities. As of 2024, cryptocurrency contributions should be reported as financial contributions moderately than in-kind contributions.

What occurred to Kansas payments on cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions?

Kansas launched two payments addressing cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions, however each did not go. HB 2535 would have prohibited cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions, whereas SB 310 would have established a framework for accepting crypto with contribution limits and restrictions. The Kansas Governmental Ethics Fee concluded in 2022 that state legislation didn’t tackle cryptocurrency donations and urged lawmakers to allow them with acceptable restrictions.

How do states that enable cryptocurrency donations decide the worth for reporting functions?

Most states require cryptocurrency contributions to be valued at their truthful market worth on the time of receipt. Colorado, Iowa, Montana, New York, Ohio, and Texas all specify that the reportable worth is predicated available on the market worth when the contribution is obtained. A number of states, together with California, Minnesota, and Washington, require quick conversion to U.S. {dollars} inside a specified timeframe (usually 5 enterprise days) to ascertain a transparent worth for reporting functions.

What’s Minnesota Chapter 62 and the way does it regulate cryptocurrency marketing campaign contributions?

Minnesota Chapter 62 (Home File 1830) is laws that Minnesota handed in 2023 permitting principal marketing campaign committees, political committees, political funds, and social gathering models to just accept in-kind digital foreign money contributions. The statute requires using U.S.-based digital foreign money fee processors, mandates contributor-verification procedures, and requires conversion of digital foreign money to U.S. foreign money inside 5 enterprise days of receipt.

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