Wisconsin Wants to Ease Cryptocurrency Rules
Wisconsin plans to make life easier for cryptocurrency users and businesses. A new bill, Wisconsin Assembly Bill 471, introduced this week, could exempt individuals and companies from obtaining money transmitter licenses for activities related to digital assets – from mining and staking to Blockchain software development.
What the bill proposes
According to a document from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, the law clearly defines cases where no license from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is required. Exemptions would apply to cryptocurrency mining, staking, and Blockchain software development. No license would be needed for exchanging digital assets, provided the transactions do not involve converting them into fiat currencies or depositing them in a bank.
The bill also guarantees that no state or local authority could prohibit the acceptance of digital assets as payment for legal goods and services. Residents of Wisconsin would be free to use software and hardware wallets, run Blockchain nodes, develop applications, or participate in staking.
Mining is the process by which computers solve complex mathematical problems and validate transactions on the Blockchain, rewarding miners with newly created coins. Staking, by contrast, requires users to lock up their coins to help secure the network and validate transactions, earning rewards in return.
Potential benefits for the state
If passed, the bill could attract new projects, miners, fintech companies, and startups looking for a jurisdiction with clear rules. The lack of federal legislation in the U.S. has long been criticized and often hinders broader cryptocurrency adoption. Wisconsin could thus become one of the first states to offer a transparent framework and reduce legal uncertainty.
Still far from approval
The bill was introduced by seven Republican members of the Wisconsin Assembly and two Republican senators. It has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and, according to Legiscan, is currently only 25% through the legislative process. It must still pass another chamber and two more committees before it can be adopted.
Sources:
https://legiscan.com/WI/text/AB471/2025