Arizona lawmakers renew bid to legalise Bitcoin as a form of payment

Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers has once again proposed enshrining Bitcoin as a legal form of payment in the state.

“Breaking: #Bitcoin is the best performing asset in the world this year according to data from Goldman Sachs.”

Launched my #Crypto bills today, as well as Photo Radar Prohibition, which included nearly all my Republican senator colleagues as cosponsors @JeffWeninger @JDMesnard pic.twitter.com/ueUeFSEybo

— Wendy Rogers (@WendyRogersAZ) January 25, 2023

In the tweet, Rogers cited Goldman Sachs data that Bitcoin is “the most profitable asset in the world this year.” She said that, together with colleagues, she introduced a number of bills, one of which would recognise Bitcoin as a payment instrument in Arizona.

If the law is enacted, the cryptocurrency would receive the same status as the US dollar. Residents would be able to pay taxes and fees with digital gold.

In January 2022, Rogers introduced for consideration a similar bill. It did not gain support. The US Constitution does not permit states to create their own legal tender.

Earlier, the Colorado Department of Revenue allowed residents to make tax payments in digital gold, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin. Previously, in California there were proposals to pay for state services with cryptocurrency cryptocurrency for state services.

In May 2021, the authorities of Williston, North Dakota announced a partnership with the processing service BitPay. Under the agreement, local residents were allowed to pay Bitcoin for utilities.

Recall, in September 2021 the government of El Salvador recognised Bitcoin as a legal means of settlement.

In the summer of 2022 the country’s finance minister Alejandro Selaya said that the introduction of digital gold expanded access to financial services for many people largely outside traditional banking, attracted tourists and drew investments.

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