Oklahoma lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would allow state employees, vendors, private businesses and residents to negotiate and receive payments in bitcoin.
Senate Bill 2064, introduced by Senator Dusty Deevers during the 2026 legislative session, establishes a legal framework for the use of bitcoin as a medium of exchange and compensation without designating it as legal tender.
The bill expressly states that it does not violate the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on states coining money or declaring other legal tender than gold and silver, instead recognizing bitcoin as a financial instrument that operates within existing legal frameworks.
If passed, the bill would allow Oklahoma state employees to choose to receive wages or salaries in bitcoin, either based on the asset’s market value at the start of a pay period or at the time of payment.
Employees would be allowed to revise their payment preference at the beginning of each pay period and could choose to receive compensation in bitcoin, US dollars, or a combination of both.
Payments will be deposited either into a self-hosted wallet controlled by the employee or into a third-party escrow account designated by the employee.
The legislation would also allow suppliers who contract with the government to choose to receive payment in bitcoin on a per-transaction basis. The Bitcoin value of these payments will be determined by the market price at the time of the transaction, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
In addition to state payroll and procurement, the bill broadly authorizes private companies and individuals in Oklahoma to negotiate and receive payments in bitcoin, furthering its use as a voluntary medium of exchange across the state economy.
SB 2064 includes provisions aimed at reducing regulatory friction for bitcoin-native businesses. Companies that trade solely in digital assets and do not exchange them for U.S. dollars would be exempt from Oklahoma’s money transmitter licensing requirements, according to the bill’s text.
The bill directs the Oklahoma State Treasurer to issue a request for proposals for a digital asset firm to process bitcoin payments to state employees and vendors.
In selecting a provider, the Treasurer must consider factors including fees, transaction speed, cybersecurity practices, storage capabilities, and any applicable state licenses. The Treasurer will be required to finalize a contract with a provider by January 1, 2027, and is authorized to promulgate regulations to implement the program.
Back in January 2025, Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Deevers introduced a similar initiative called the Bitcoin Freedom Act (SB 325). It was a bill designed to allow employees, suppliers and businesses to voluntarily receive and make payments in Bitcoin while creating a legal framework for its use in the state economy.
Oklahoma’s bitcoin adoption echoes other US states
The move follows other states like New Hampshire and Texas in exploring ways to integrate Bitcoin into public finances.
New Hampshire passed the nation’s first Strategic Bitcoin Reserve law, allowing the state to hold up to 5% of its funds in digital assets with high market capitalization and even authorizing a bitcoin-backed municipal bond.
Texas, meanwhile, has paired legislation with action, creating a strategic bitcoin reserve and making the first U.S. state Bitcoin ETF purchase of about $5 million, framed as both a hedge against economic volatility and a step toward modernizing state finances.
If passed, SB 2064 would take effect on November 1, 2026, placing Oklahoma among a small but growing number of US states exploring direct integration of bitcoin into public payment systems.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission would also be required to issue guidance on the tax treatment of digital assets received as payment by January 1, 2027, addressing an area that has often created uncertainty for both employees and employers.