Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 2064, a proposal that would allow state employees, vendors, businesses, and residents to negotiate and receive payments in bitcoin.
What the bill says
The measure states it would not make bitcoin legal tender, citing Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution.
Instead, it frames bitcoin as a “financial instrument and medium of exchange” that can be used within existing legal frameworks.
The bill also defines bitcoin by referencing Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper).
Paychecks and vendor payments
Under the proposal, state employees could elect to receive compensation in bitcoin based either on the market value at the beginning of a pay period or at the time of payment.
Employees would be allowed to revise that election at the start of each pay period.
Payments could be deposited to an employee’s “self-hosted wallet,” which the bill defines as a setup that does not rely on a third-party custodian.
Vendors could also choose to be paid in bitcoin at the creation of a purchase order, with the election binding for that specific transaction.
Licensing, contracts, and dates
The bill would exempt certain firms from Oklahoma’s money transmitter licensing requirement if they deal with digital assets but do not accept U.S. currency payments or exchange digital assets for U.S. currency.
It directs the State Treasurer to issue a request for proposal for a firm to implement bitcoin payments and to enter into a contract by January 1, 2027.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission would be required to issue guidance on tax implications by the same date.
The bill’s effective date is November 1, 2026.
