Rhode Island Reintroduces Bills to Study Blockchain and Encourage Cryptocurrency Use
Rhode Island is taking a noticeably measured path on crypto, and I kind of respect the pacing. Instead of pretending there’s a single “yes or no” answer, lawmakers are pairing homework with a small real-world test. One bill, S2198, would create a special commission focused on studying blockchain and cryptocurrency, with an interim report due January 5, 2027 and a final report due January 5, 2028, before the group sunsets soon after. The other bill, S2021, goes after a daily annoyance that people who actually try to use crypto run into fast: taxes and recordkeeping on small purchases. The proposal would carve out a simplified exemption for small Bitcoin transactions—up to $5,000 per month or $20,000 per year—so routine spending doesn’t instantly turn into a spreadsheet project. And the timing tracks. Washington is actively debating a broader market framework right now, so states have an incentive to explore narrow, manageable policies while the bigger rules are still being argued. The real question is whether this stays “simple” once edge cases, enforcement, and audits show up.
