🇺🇸 Ohio Subdivision of United States

Ohio briefly accepted Bitcoin for tax payments (2018-2019, discontinued). Standard money transmission regulation applies. Growing as affordable tech hub.

Overview

Status	Legal
Risk Score	25/100 (Low Risk)
Region	north america
Currency	USD

Tax Information

Capital Gains (Personal)	Federal + 3.125% state (2025 tax year); Federal + 2.75% flat state (2026 tax year, enacted via HB 96 signed June 30, 2025). Ohio taxes capital gains as ordinary income with no preferential long-term rate. Proposed HB 116 (pending Senate) would add a $200 de minimis exemption for crypto transactions.
Capital Gains (Corporate)	Federal + 0.26% CAT
VAT on Crypto	No
Staking Tax	No specific guidance
Airdrop Tax	No specific guidance

No crypto-specific tax guidance available.

Licensing & Registration

Required	Yes
Regulator	OH Division of Financial Institutions
Framework	OH Money Transmitter Act

Enforcement Activity

Level: Moderate

Enforcement focused on unlicensed operators and consumer protection

AML / KYC

KYC Required	Yes
Travel Rule	Yes
FATF Member	Yes
FATF Status	compliant
FATF Body	FATF
Suspicious-Activity Reporting	Yes

DeFi, Stablecoins & NFTs

Status: Unclear

No specific DeFi regulation

Stablecoins

Status: federal_framework

The GENIUS Act (federal) was signed into law July 18, 2025, establishing a US federal stablecoin framework requiring 1:1 backing with high-quality assets, segregated/audited reserves, and a ban on yield-bearing stablecoins. Issuers over $10B face mandatory federal supervision; smaller issuers may operate under certified state regimes. Ohio has no separate state-level stablecoin framework; the federal GENIUS Act governs. OCC proposed implementing regulations published February 25, 2026.

NFTs

Status: no_rules

No specific NFT regulation

Mining

Legal	Yes
Electricity Cost	$0.1/kWh
Renewable Energy	20%
Infrastructure	good

Ohio has competitive electricity rates relative to the US average, with a temperate climate aiding cooling. Infrastructure for data centers and mining is good due to proximity to major internet hubs and power grids.

Geopolitical Risk

Stability	stable
Sanctions	No
Corruption Index	67/100
Banking Access	open

Risk Factors

regulatory changes
energy price volatility

Ohio benefits from stable US political environment, good internet freedom, and open banking for crypto businesses. Risks include potential regulatory shifts and energy cost fluctuations.

Sources

OH Division of Financial Institutions official
OH Money Transmitter Act framework

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cryptocurrency legal in Ohio?

Ohio briefly accepted Bitcoin for tax payments (2018-2019, discontinued). Standard money transmission regulation applies. Growing as affordable tech hub.