South Carolina Passes Law Banning CBDCs While Protecting Crypto Users, Bitcoin Miners
South Carolina has enacted Bill 163, which protects individuals, businesses, and Bitcoin miners in the state regarding the use, custody, and mining of digital assets. The law prohibits restrictions on accepting digital assets for legal goods and services, and allows self-custody via self-hosted or hardware wallets. It also bans state involvement in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and prevents restrictions on digital asset mining in industrial areas, provided sound pollution and electrical grid impact regulations are followed. Miners, node operators, and blockchain software developers are exempt from money transmitter licensing requirements. The bill passed the Senate in April 2025 and the House with near-unanimous support in May 2026. Separately, another proposed bill would let the state treasurer allocate up to 10% of certain public funds into Bitcoin, but it has not advanced since referral to committee.
