Arizona Governor Hobbs Vetoes Crypto Legislation—Calls It ’Too Risky’ for Main Street

Arizona’s push to embrace crypto hits a wall as Governor Katie Hobbs axes two blockchain bills, citing ’unacceptable risks’ to consumers. The move throws cold water on local crypto advocates who saw the state as the next pro-regulation frontier.

Behind the veto pen: Hobbs’ office flagged concerns over lax oversight in the proposed laws—one aimed at crypto tax payments, the other at DAO legal recognition. Critics argue the governor’s playing defense while Wall Street quietly builds Bitcoin ETFs.

Silver lining? The rejections come as Bitcoin flirts with $70K again—proof the market couldn’t care less about bureaucratic speed bumps. Another reminder that in crypto, the ’rules’ are written by whoever holds the most BTC.

Detailing The Rejected Crypto Bills

The first bill, Senate Bill 1373, WOULD have created a strategic reserve fund from seized cryptocurrency assets. While this fund would not have directly involved taxpayer money, it raised concerns for Hobbs about connecting state financial infrastructure to a volatile asset class.

In her veto letter, the governor acknowledged the use of crypto in state processes but emphasized that “current volatility” in the digital asset market makes it unsuitable for reserve fund planning.

Earlier this legislative session, Hobbs did sign House Bill 2749 into law, which allows for a reserve fund to be created from unclaimed crypto assets, but with clear restrictions around legislative oversight.

Gov. Hobbs signs HB 2749—Arizona’s Bitcoin & Digital Assets Reserve Fund, funded only by seized crypto. Signals comfort with state-held BTC and could lift SB 1373’s chances. State-level $BTC reserve momentum rising.#Bitcoin #Arizona #StrategicReserves https://t.co/zOGiPW57Vq

— SSI (SoSoValue Indexes) (@SoSoValue) May 8, 2025

In addition to SB 1373, Governor Hobbs also rejected Senate Bill 1024, which would have permitted Arizona state agencies to accept digital currency as a FORM of payment for fines and civil penalties.

Her veto cited the risks of enabling government institutions to operate directly within the crypto ecosystem, a view that has seen some bipartisan acknowledgment among lawmakers.

The rejection of SB 1024 follows a similar veto earlier in the month of SB 1025, which would have authorized Arizona’s state treasurer and retirement systems to allocate up to 10% of their portfolios in digital currencies.

Consumer Protection Measures Win Approval Amid Regulatory Balancing Act

While Governor Hobbs has blocked broader adoption efforts, she has shown support for crypto regulation intended to protect consumers. Last week, she signed House Bill 2387 into law, which imposes a range of requirements on cryptocurrency kiosk operators.

Under HB 2387, kiosks must display consumer warnings about fraud, collect customer risk acknowledgment statements, provide transaction receipts, and enforce a $2,000 daily transaction cap for new users.

Additionally, kiosk operators must maintain 24/7 customer service to assist users and mitigate misuse, an element designed to safeguard vulnerable populations, especially seniors.

The contrasting decisions highlight a measured regulatory stance by the Arizona governor: supportive of protective oversight but hesitant to embrace broader state-level crypto adoption. Arizona’s approach mirrors trends in other US states grappling with the balance between innovation and public sector risk exposure.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView