South Carolina Enacts Crypto-Friendly Bill Into Law

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-05-20Last updated on 2026-05-20

Abstract

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has signed Senate Bill 163 into law, creating a crypto-friendly regulatory framework. The law shields digital asset mining businesses from restrictive local zoning changes without proper procedure and protects them from discriminatory regulations compared to other industrial businesses. It prohibits state agencies from adopting or participating in central bank digital currency (CBDC) trials. The legislation safeguards the right to self-custody of crypto assets, bans restrictions on hardware and self-hosted wallets, and prevents excessive taxation on cryptocurrency transactions. It also exempts miners, node operators, developers, and crypto-to-crypto traders from money transmitter licensing, and excludes mining/staking service providers from security classifications. South Carolina follows states like Kentucky in enacting pro-crypto legislation.

On Tuesday, South Carolina’s Governor Henry McMaster signed Senate Bill 163 into law, establishing a framework that is very favorable to cryptocurrency at the state level.

The bill reads:

“A political subdivision shall not change the zoning of a digital asset mining business without going through the proper notice and comment. A digital asset mining business may appeal a change in zoning to the proper court of jurisdiction.”

Shields from Restrictive Local Regulations

Protecting the rights of crypto users and miners and removing regulatory obstacles for companies working in the field, the measure prohibits state agencies from adopting central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and has already passed the Senate 38-1 and the House 110-1.

Federal Reserve-led digital currency trials, including federal agency pilot projects, are illegal for any state agency or political subdivision to accept, require payment in, or participate in on CBDCs.

It safeguards the right to keep cryptocurrency assets in one’s own possession by prohibiting governments from imposing restrictions on hardware wallets and self-hosted wallets and from taxing cryptocurrency transactions at a rate greater than similar US dollar transfers.

Bitcoin miners in industrial zones will have special safeguards under the new law. In addition to the noise limitations imposed by general pollution regulations, local governments are unable to put additional restrictions on mining companies that do not apply to other nearby industrial enterprises.

Miners, node operators, blockchain software developers, and crypto-to-crypto traders are among the many sectors that are not required by law to get money transmitter licenses. Security categorization does not apply to companies who provide mining or staking as a service.

In taking a stand in favor of cryptocurrency, South Carolina is the latest state to do so. Last March, Kentucky approved the Bitcoin Rights law, which protects mining firms from discriminatory municipal regulations and guarantees self-custody rights.

Highlighted Crypto News Today:

Echo Protocol Suffers $76M eBTC Minting Attack

TagsAltcoinBitcoin

Trending Cryptos

Related Questions

QWhat did South Carolina's Governor Henry McMaster sign into law on Tuesday?

ASouth Carolina's Governor Henry McMaster signed Senate Bill 163 into law.

QWhat are two key protections the bill provides for Bitcoin miners according to the article?

AThe bill prohibits local governments from imposing additional restrictions on mining companies not applied to other industrial enterprises and shields miners from changes in zoning without proper notice and comment.

QWhat does the bill prohibit state agencies from doing regarding Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)?

AThe bill prohibits state agencies from adopting CBDCs, accepting them for payment, requiring payment in them, or participating in Federal Reserve-led digital currency trials or pilot projects.

QWhich cryptocurrency-related individuals or businesses are not required to obtain money transmitter licenses under the new law?

ABitcoin miners, node operators, blockchain software developers, and crypto-to-crypto traders are not required by law to get money transmitter licenses.

QWhich other state's legislation protecting Bitcoin rights is mentioned as being similar to South Carolina's new law?

AThe article mentions Kentucky, which approved the Bitcoin Rights law last March to protect mining firms and guarantee self-custody rights.

Related Reads

Altcoin Hacked, Leading to Sharp Price Drop! Also Listed on Major Exchanges!

The price of the NES token plummeted significantly following suspicious activity and large sell-offs detected on the network. Blockchain observers suggested that one wallet minted approximately $55 million worth of NES tokens and began selling them on decentralized exchanges. This selling pressure caused the price of NES to drop by up to 40%. According to the data, the address in question still holds around $18 million worth of NES, indicating that market sell-off pressure may continue. Prior to the incident, it was reported that about $12.35 million worth (62.9 million NES tokens) were transferred to the Ethereum mainnet in the morning (Turkish time), with claims that liquidity was withdrawn and tokens were sold on the market later that evening. However, data regarding the $55 million token mint and the transfer of 62.9 million NES tokens has not been independently confirmed. The NESA team confirmed in a statement that they detected malicious activity exploiting a vulnerability in their Layer 1 network originating from Cosmos EVM. They stated they are working to contain the impact, responded promptly, and will restore services after implementing a software patch and additional measures to ensure secure network operation. Nesa also notified all cryptocurrency exchanges and stated deposit operations will resume after necessary work is completed. The article includes a chart showing the NES price decline following the exploit and concludes with a standard disclaimer that this is not investment advice.

cryptonews.ru38m ago

Altcoin Hacked, Leading to Sharp Price Drop! Also Listed on Major Exchanges!

cryptonews.ru38m ago

PeaqOS and World ID Integrate ZK Proofs into Autonomous Robots

The integration of PeaqOS and World ID now allows autonomous machines to verify they are interacting with real, unique individuals without collecting names, photos, or other personal data. This update, available via robotic.sh, enables connected devices to directly request and verify World ID proofs. The system leverages zero-knowledge technology, letting a person prove they are human while maintaining the privacy of their identity. This addresses a key challenge for operators of delivery robots, shared machines, and autonomous systems: how to authenticate a user as genuine without relying on insecure PINs, pickup codes, or traditional identity checks that require personal data collection. Instead of obtaining identifying information, a device receives a cryptographic proof that the user is a real person. PeaqOS acts as a coordination layer, allowing devices to utilize World ID via decentralized identifiers and a device marketplace. A robot can request verification, receive a zero-knowledge proof, and register an auditable record of the interaction—all without exposing underlying personal data. The system also supports uniqueness verification, enabling machines to enforce rules like "one item per person" without maintaining user identity databases. A demonstrated use case involves autonomous medicine delivery: a patient verifies via the World App when placing an order, a pharmacist verifies before loading the medication, and the patient verifies again upon delivery so the robot can confirm the recipient is linked to the order before unlocking the compartment. Similarly, promotional robots could ensure one item per person, and shared vending machines could grant access to verified individuals without requiring accounts or personal data. This integration for PeaqOS-powered robots and devices minimizes the identity information collected or stored while allowing autonomous systems to confirm they are interacting with real humans.

cryptonews.ru1h ago

PeaqOS and World ID Integrate ZK Proofs into Autonomous Robots

cryptonews.ru1h ago

Trading

Spot

Hot Articles

How to Buy BILL

Welcome to HTX.com! We've made purchasing Billions Network (BILL) simple and convenient. Follow our step-by-step guide to embark on your crypto journey.Step 1: Create Your HTX AccountUse your email or phone number to sign up for a free account on HTX. Experience a hassle-free registration journey and unlock all features.Get My AccountStep 2: Go to Buy Crypto and Choose Your Payment MethodCredit/Debit Card: Use your Visa or Mastercard to buy Billions Network (BILL) instantly.Balance: Use funds from your HTX account balance to trade seamlessly.Third Parties: We've added popular payment methods such as Google Pay and Apple Pay to enhance convenience.P2P: Trade directly with other users on HTX.Over-the-Counter (OTC): We offer tailor-made services and competitive exchange rates for traders.Step 3: Store Your Billions Network (BILL)After purchasing your Billions Network (BILL), store it in your HTX account. Alternatively, you can send it elsewhere via blockchain transfer or use it to trade other cryptocurrencies.Step 4: Trade Billions Network (BILL)Easily trade Billions Network (BILL) on HTX's spot market. Simply access your account, select your trading pair, execute your trades, and monitor in real-time. We offer a user-friendly experience for both beginners and seasoned traders.

3.4k Total ViewsPublished 2026.05.07Updated 2026.06.02

How to Buy BILL

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of BILL (BILL) are presented below.

活动图片