Oklahoma Considers Bitcoin Pay Option For State Employees

"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 compensation without designating it as legal tender. The bill explicitly states that it does not conflict with the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on states coining money or declaring legal tender other than gold and silver, instead recognizing bitcoin as a financial instrument operating within existing legal frameworks."

"If enacted, the bill would permit Oklahoma state employees to elect to receive salaries or wages in bitcoin, either based on the asset's market value at the start of a pay period or at the time of payment. Employees would be allowed to revise their payment preference at the beginning of each pay period and could choose to receive compensation in bitcoin, U.S. dollars, or a combination of both."

"The legislation would also allow vendors contracting with the state to opt into receiving payment in bitcoin on a per-transaction basis. The bitcoin value of those payments would be determined by the market price at the time of the transaction unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. Beyond state payroll and procurement, the bill broadly authorizes private businesses and individuals in Oklahoma to negotiate and receive payments in bitcoin, reinforcing its use as a voluntary medium of exchange across the state economy."

SB 2064 would allow bitcoin as a medium of exchange in Oklahoma without declaring it legal tender. The bill says it does not conflict with the U.S. Constitution's ban on states naming legal tender and treats bitcoin as a financial instrument under existing law. State employees could elect wages in bitcoin at market value at either a pay-period start or at payment, and change that choice each pay period with deposits to self-hosted or custodial wallets. Vendors could opt for per-transaction bitcoin payments valued at market price. Private businesses and residents could negotiate bitcoin payments, and firms dealing only in digital assets and not converting them to dollars would be exempt from state money transmitter licensing.

Read at Bitcoin Magazine