The House Technology and Innovation Committee in Ohio has unanimously advanced House Bill 116, commonly referred to as the “Bitcoin Rights” bill, with full support in a 13-0 vote. This strong bipartisan backing reflects the state’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of cryptocurrency and blockchain innovation.
Introduced by Republican Representative Steve Demetriou, the bill aligns with a broader national movement aimed at securing the rights of digital asset holders. It now proceeds to the full Ohio House of Representatives for further consideration and a vote.
Ahead of the vote, Demetriou described the moment as historic for Ohio, emphasizing the effort to build a solid legal framework that encourages technological progress and offers residents more financial autonomy. He also expressed gratitude to the committee for showing up and casting their votes in favor of the legislation.
This unanimous decision highlights the growing bipartisan agreement on the need to establish clear, state-level protections for individuals using digital assets.
The legislation aimed at securing self-custody and mining rights could present challenges for broader discussions around financial autonomy and DeFi, where proponents maintain that self-custody is a foundational principle of the crypto landscape.
Under the bill, individuals and businesses in Ohio would be legally allowed to operate blockchain nodes and engage in virtual currency mining, core functions for maintaining decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which depend on these operations to keep the network intact and process transactions.
By embedding these protections into law, Ohio hopes to attract firms focused on building blockchain infrastructure and avoid the restrictive regulatory climate seen in some other states.
In addition, House Bill 116 introduces a $200 exemption from state capital gains taxes on profits derived from digital asset transactions. This measure is designed to ease the burden on smaller users, such as individuals making modest purchases or conducting peer-to-peer transfers, who are often caught up in complex tax requirements.
Backers of the bill argue that this exclusion will promote routine use of cryptocurrencies for payments, tipping, and other low-value exchanges—helping integrate digital assets into everyday economic activity without unnecessary tax obstacles.
The broader goal of Ohio’s initiative is to support responsible crypto adoption among consumers while aligning with ongoing national efforts to simplify tax rules and reduce regulatory friction for digital asset users.
Although HB 116 must still clear the full state legislature and receive the governor’s approval, its unanimous passage in committee reflects strong bipartisan momentum behind crypto legislation in Ohio. If enacted, the bill could help establish the state as one of the most welcoming environments for digital assets in the U.S.
The proposal is widely regarded as a clear indication of Ohio’s ambition to lead in the emerging digital economy. States that take early legislative action are expected to be best positioned to benefit from future waves of innovation.
However, skepticism remains. Critics argue the bill might introduce regulatory loopholes and raise potential issues around consumer protection. Some have also expressed concern that it may conflict with existing energy or environmental goals, potentially limiting oversight of mining operations.
