PRIA Logo™
West VirginiaHB 53532026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

To bring virtual currency kiosks within the purview of money transmission licensure and create disclosure requirements and daily transaction limitations for new and existing customers.

Sponsored By: Vernon Criss (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§32A-2-1§32A-2-4§32A-2-8C§32A-2-17§32A-2-27

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Licenses now required for kiosk operators

Running a virtual currency kiosk in West Virginia counts as money transmission, so operators must be licensed. Applications use the commissioner’s form and may be filed through NMLS; the commissioner decides within 120 days of a complete application. Licenses expire each December 31, must be renewed yearly, cannot be transferred, and must be posted at each office; the application fee is nonrefundable but counts toward the first‑year license fee. Existing operators must apply within 90 days of the law’s effective date and list all delegate locations. The law defines what a virtual currency kiosk is and makes clear that personal cell phones are not kiosks.

Virtual currency kiosk warnings and limits

The law requires clear, large‑print (at least 24‑point) risk and account disclosures before you use a virtual currency kiosk, including a bold warning that losses may not be recoverable and transactions may be irreversible. Before each transaction, you see the dollar amount, all fees, the exchange rate, whether it can be undone, your daily limit, and how the price compares to the market. You must confirm you got these disclosures, and you get a receipt showing fees, exchange rate, any tax collected, wallet addresses and a transaction ID, refund policy, and state contact information. You count as a new customer for your first 10 days after registering; caps are $1,000 per day for new customers and $10,000 per day for existing customers. New customers can cancel and get a full refund for fraudulent transactions in that 10‑day period if they contact the operator and law enforcement and file a report within 30 days after the last transaction in that window.

Tighter rules for kiosk delegates

Licensed operators can run kiosks through authorized delegates, but delegates must follow written contracts and only act within the authority given. Licensees must screen delegates for disqualifying convictions in the past 10 years. Delegates must report any theft or loss within 24 hours; operators must promptly tell delegates about license suspensions or revocations and have them stop, and must report delegate changes to the state each quarter. Money a delegate collects is held in trust for the licensee and stays the licensee’s property; if a delegate fails to send funds on time, the licensee can sue for three times the damages. The commissioner may set a maximum time for delegates to remit funds.

Stronger fraud checks at kiosks

Kiosk operators must check a government ID before a transaction and stop multiple customers from using the same wallet. They must be able to block risky wallets and use third‑party blockchain tools to screen for sanctions and high‑risk activity. They must monitor transactions for fraud, offer live toll‑free support during kiosk hours, keep a law‑enforcement contact, and use enhanced due‑diligence steps to spot scams.

State coordinates oversight with federal law

The commissioner can share information and training with federal and state agencies and request State Police help. If state rules conflict with federal law, federal law controls. The commissioner may issue guidance to explain the conflict and how to comply.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

My TaxesMy HealthMy BudgetMy MoneyMy Freedom
Or tell us something more specific

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Vernon Criss

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Bob Fehrenbacher

    Republican • House

  • Clay Riley

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 431 • No: 15

House vote • 3/14/2026

Effective from passage (Roll No. 656)

Yes: 93 • No: 4

House vote • 3/14/2026

House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 655)

Yes: 93 • No: 4

Senate vote • 3/13/2026

Effective from passage (Roll No. 564)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/13/2026

Passed Senate (Roll No. 563)

Yes: 33 • No: 1

House vote • 3/4/2026

Effective from passage (Roll No. 308)

Yes: 89 • No: 3

House vote • 3/4/2026

Passed House (Roll No. 307)

Yes: 89 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

    4/1/2026House

  2. To Governor 3/25/26

    3/25/2026House

  3. House received Senate message

    3/14/2026House

  4. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 655)

    3/14/2026House

  5. Effective from passage (Roll No. 656)

    3/14/2026House

  6. Communicated to Senate

    3/14/2026House

  7. Completed legislative action

    3/14/2026House

  8. House Message received

    3/14/2026Senate

  9. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  10. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  11. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

    3/14/2026House

  12. On 3rd reading

    3/13/2026Senate

  13. Read 3rd time

    3/13/2026Senate

  14. Passed Senate (Roll No. 563)

    3/13/2026Senate

  15. Title amendment adopted

    3/13/2026Senate

  16. Effective from passage (Roll No. 564)

    3/13/2026Senate

  17. Senate requests House to concur

    3/13/2026Senate

  18. On 2nd reading

    3/12/2026Senate

  19. Read 2nd time

    3/12/2026Senate

  20. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    3/12/2026Senate

  21. Reported do pass, with amendment

    3/11/2026Senate

  22. Immediate consideration

    3/11/2026Senate

  23. Read 1st time

    3/11/2026Senate

  24. Introduced in Senate

    3/5/2026Senate

  25. To Finance

    3/5/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in