MontanaSB 26569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET

Revise cryptocurrency laws to create Financial Freedom and Innovation Act

Sponsored By: Daniel Zolnikov (Republican)

Became Law

Trade Regulations and CompetitionTaxation (Generally)

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New path to offer network tokens

The law creates a state exemption path for network token offerings. Issuers must apply to the Montana Securities Commissioner before any offer or sale, pay a filing fee, and provide identity, governance, risk, functionality, and distribution details. They must update filings every 6 months and within 30 days of any material change. Sales under the exemption are capped at $250,000,000 in any 12 months, adjusted yearly for inflation; programmatic, nondiscretionary distributions for services or direct use do not count. Qualifying deals, including some foreign issuers that register with the Secretary of State and certify no securities-fraud cases, can use the exemption. Eligibility uses state definitions, including an affiliate owning over 10% of supply and decentralization with less than 20% owned by the issuer and affiliates.

You can use crypto and build

Montanans can accept digital assets for lawful goods and services. You can hold assets in a self-hosted or hardware wallet. State and local governments cannot ban these actions. You may also run blockchain nodes, move digital assets on chain, build blockchain software, and take part in staking.

Staking services not treated as securities

Offering staking-as-a-service, by itself, is not a security under Montana law. This lowers state securities compliance risk for legitimate providers. The Securities Commissioner can still act against false or misleading staking claims.

State cannot require central bank digital currency

Montana state and local governments cannot accept or require payment in a central bank digital currency. They also cannot join any federal tests of such a currency. This prevents governments from forcing CBDC payments.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Daniel Zolnikov
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Bob Carter
Democrat • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 230 • No: 67

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 70 • No: 29

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 71 • No: 28

Senate vote • 3/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 44 • No: 6

Senate vote • 3/3/2025