Oklahoma lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would allow state employees, suppliers, private businesses and residents to trade and receive payments in bitcoin.
Senate Bill 2064, introduced by Senator Dusty Deevers during the 2026 legislative session, establishes a legal framework for the use of bitcoin as a medium of exchange and clearing without designating it as legal tender.
The bill explicitly states that it does not conflict with the US Constitution’s prohibition on states minting money or declaring legal tender other than gold and silver, but instead recognizes bitcoin as a financial instrument that operates within existing legal frameworks.
If enacted, the bill would allow Oklahoma state employees to choose to receive salaries or wages in bitcoin, either based on the market value of the asset at the beginning of a pay period or at the time of payment.
Employees would be allowed to review their pay preferences at the beginning of each pay period and could choose to receive compensation in bitcoin, US dollars, or a combination of both.
Payments would be deposited into a self-hosted wallet controlled by the employee or a third-party escrow account designated by the employee.
The legislation would also allow providers who contract with the state to opt to receive payments in bitcoin per transaction. The bitcoin value of those payments would be determined by the market price at the time of the transaction, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Beyond payroll and state procurement, the bill broadly authorizes private businesses and individuals in Oklahoma to trade and receive payments in bitcoin, bolstering its use as a voluntary medium of exchange throughout the state economy.
SB 2064 includes provisions aimed at reducing regulatory friction for native bitcoin companies. Under the text of the legislation, companies that trade exclusively in digital assets and do not exchange them for U.S. dollars would be exempt from Oklahoma’s money transmitter licensing requirements.
The bill directs the Oklahoma State Treasurer to issue a request for proposals for a digital asset company to process bitcoin payments for state employees and vendors.
When selecting a provider, the Treasurer should consider factors including fees, transaction speed, cybersecurity practices, escrow options, and any relevant state licenses. The Treasurer would be required to finalize a contract with a provider by January 1, 2027 and is authorized to promulgate rules to implement the program.
In January 2025, Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Deevers introduced a similar initiative called the Bitcoin Freedom Act (SB 325). It was a bill designed to allow employees, suppliers, and businesses to voluntarily receive and make payments in Bitcoin while creating a legal framework for its use in the state’s economy.
Oklahoma’s bitcoin adoption echoes other US states
This move follows other states such as New Hampshire and Texas in exploring ways to integrate Bitcoin into public finances.
New Hampshire passed the country’s first Bitcoin Strategic Reserve law, allowing the state to hold up to 5% of its funds in high-market-cap digital assets and even approve a municipal bond backed by bitcoin.
Meanwhile, Texas has combined legislation with action, creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and making the first US state Bitcoin ETF purchase for around $5 million, framing it as a hedge against economic volatility and a step toward modernizing state finances.
If passed, SB 2064 would take effect on Nov. 1, 2026, positioning Oklahoma among a small but growing number of U.S. states exploring the direct integration of bitcoin into government payment systems.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission should also issue guidance on the tax treatment of digital assets received as payment before January 1, 2027, addressing an area that has often created uncertainty for both employees and employers.
