Key Takeaways
- Ohio House committee unanimously passes Blockchain Basics Act, enabling tax-free Bitcoin payments under $200.
- Bill provides legal clarity for blockchain activities, self-custody, and bitcoin mining rights in the state.
- Ohio considers additional bills to establish state-level bitcoin reserves, joining other states in similar efforts.
Ohio is moving to the forefront of bitcoin regulation with the passage of the Ohio Blockchain Basics Act (HB 116) by the state’s House Technology Committee.
The bill, which passed unanimously with a 13-0 vote on July 17, 2025, introduces several key provisions for both individuals and businesses operating in the bitcoin space.
Tax-free bitcoin payments under $200
A central feature of HB 116 is the ‘de minimis’ exemption, which would allow Ohioans to make bitcoin payments under $200 without triggering capital gains tax.
This move aims to remove a significant barrier to using bitcoin for everyday transactions.
Dennis Porter, CEO of Satoshi Action Fund, praised the legislation as one of the strongest bitcoin rights bills in the nation, saying:
It makes it easier for people to use Bitcoin as a practical medium of exchange, not just an investment asset.
Legal protections and mining rights
The bill also establishes clear legal definitions for blockchain protocols, digital asset mining, and self-custody, affirming the right to run nodes and mine bitcoin. I
t seeks to protect individuals and businesses engaged in bitcoin mining or decentralized operations from restrictive regulations.
Additional bitcoin bills in Ohio
HB 116 is part of a broader push, with two other bills—HB 18 and SB 57—proposing the creation of state-level bitcoin reserves.
These investments would be limited to exchange-traded products with a minimum $750 billion market capitalization, held through secure custody solutions.
Ohio joins states like Arizona and Texas in advancing similar bitcoin reserve legislation.
