Crypto Law Profile
Pennsylvania HB 2481 would have protected digital-asset payments, self-custody, and node operations. It passed the House but died in Senate committee after the 2023-2024 session.
The Pennsylvania Digital Assets Authorization Act was a 2024 state bill, House Bill 2481, that would have restricted the Commonwealth and municipalities from impairing certain digital asset uses. The bill did not become Pennsylvania law and should be treated as a prior-session measure as of June 9, 2026.
HB 2481 proposed a state-level framework for payment use, self-custody, and node operation involving digital assets. The official short title in the bill text is the Digital Assets Authorization Act. The measure was introduced in the Pennsylvania House during the 2023-2024 Regular Session and later passed the House before moving to the Senate.
The bill would have prohibited the Commonwealth or a municipality from prohibiting, restricting, or otherwise impairing the ability of an individual or business to accept digital assets as a method of payment for legal goods and services.
HB 2481 would have protected the ability to maintain self-custody of a digital asset using a self-hosted wallet or hardware wallet, where the owner retains independent control over the asset.
The bill would have prohibited additional taxes, withholding, assessments, or charges based solely on using a digital asset as a payment method. The text preserved taxes or charges that would otherwise apply to the same purchase when made with U.S. legal tender.
The measure would have made it lawful in Pennsylvania to operate a node for connecting to a blockchain protocol, connecting to a protocol built on top of a blockchain protocol, or transferring a digital asset on a blockchain protocol.
The bill included construction language stating that it would not override or limit Pennsylvania commercial code provisions, the Commonwealth's Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets rules, money transmission licensing and customer protection laws, or reporting and disclosure requirements related to suspected financial exploitation or fraud.
HB 2481 was introduced on July 2, 2024, passed the House on Oct. 23, 2024, and was referred to the Senate Communications and Technology Committee on Nov. 7, 2024. It died in committee after the 2023-2024 session and was not enacted. The bill text stated that the act would take effect in 60 days, but no effective date exists because the bill did not become law.
This profile describes a prior-session Pennsylvania bill for legal-reference purposes only. It does not provide legal, tax, investment, trading, or compliance advice.
Would have barred state or municipal restrictions on accepting digital assets as payment for legal goods and services.
Would have protected use of self-hosted or hardware wallets where the owner retains independent control over the asset.
Would have barred additional taxes or charges based solely on using a digital asset as payment.
Would have made operating a node lawful for connecting to or transferring digital assets on a blockchain protocol.
Clarified that UCC, fiduciary digital asset law, money transmission licensing, and fraud-reporting rules would still apply.
HB 2481 was introduced by Rep. Michael Cabell and Republican co-sponsors.
House Commerce reported the bill as amended.
The House passed HB 2481 on final passage by a 176-26 vote.
The bill was referred to the Senate Communications and Technology Committee.
The bill was not enacted before the 2023-2024 session ended.
Pennsylvania General Assembly, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Senate Communications and Technology Committee, Rep. Michael Cabell
Cryptocurrencies, Digital assets, NFTs, Stablecoins
Official bill text uses the plural short title, Digital Assets Authorization Act. This was not enacted and should be treated as a prior-session bill.
