Arizona senator keeps pushing to make Bitcoin legal tender

Republican senator Wendy Rogers introduced a bill on Jan. 25 that proposes including Bitcoin (BTC) in the list of currencies accepted as legal tender in Arizona. If passed, Arizona would become the first state in the U.S. to embrace Bitcoin as an official currency.

The bill, if approved, will enable Arizona residents to buy and sell goods and services, and pay taxes and dues with BTC.

Rogers had previously introduced bill SB 1341 seeking to make Bitcoin legal tender in January 2022. The new bill, SB 1235, proposes amending the definition of legal tender to include BTC in existing laws in addition to declaring the largest cryptocurrency as legal tender.

It is questionable, however, whether Arizona will be able to enact the bill into law. The U.S. Constitution specifically restricts states from creating their own legal tender.

Journalist at CryptoSlate

Monika started reading about crypto in 2020 and went deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. While she is always skeptical of new projects, she earnestly believes blockchain and the crypto industry can relieve some of our time’s most pressing problems, including financial inequality and transparency. She is a voracious reader, and her fondness for food only rivals her love for books.