Ohio Approves Crypto Payments for State Fees

Ohio Steps Into the Crypto Era

In a landmark move, the Ohio State Board of Deposit unanimously approved a vendor to process crypto payments, including Bitcoin, for official state fees and services. The decision makes Ohio one of the first U.S. states to weave crypto directly into public finance.

This marks the culmination of months of preparation that began in April, when LaRose and Treasurer Robert Sprague introduced the proposal. It passed in May, but the final vendor approval only came through this week.

Leaders Celebrate Crypto-Friendly Reputation

LaRose framed the move as a win for Ohio’s reputation as a business-friendly state.

His office, which handles hundreds of thousands of transactions annually, had seen growing demand for cryptocurrency payment options. LaRose said he was eager to be the first to provide it to Ohioans.

A Broader Push for Digital Assets in Ohio

This crypto payments milestone is part of Ohio’s wider digital asset agenda. In June, the House advanced the Ohio Blockchain Basics Act, banning local governments from restricting digital asset use and exempting small crypto transactions under $200 from capital gains taxes.

LaRose also supports House Bill 18, which would create an Ohio Strategic Crypto Reserve, funded by portions of state investment earnings. He linked the proposal to President Donald Trump’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, launched earlier this year to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet.”

Part of a National Trend Toward Bitcoin Reserves

Ohio’s progress comes amid a wave of state-level Bitcoin reserve legislation across the U.S. According to Bitcoin Laws, 47 states have introduced bills, with around 26 still active. States like Arizona, Texas, and New Hampshire have led the charge, while others remain stalled in committee. 

Interestingly, Michigan’s own Bitcoin reserve bill—which had been stalled for seven months—also advanced this week, moving to the Government Operations Committee. The parallel progress suggests state-level adoption is accelerating nationwide.

What Comes Next for Ohio

By approving crypto for state services, Ohio has positioned itself as a trailblazer in digital public finance. For citizens, this means greater flexibility in how they pay government fees, and for the state, it signals an embrace of crypto as part of mainstream economic infrastructure.