Pennsylvania Bill Threatens Jail Time for Officials Holding Crypto Beyond 90 Days

Pennsylvania lawmakers just dropped a legislative bomb that could land government officials behind bars for holding digital assets.

The 90-Day Countdown

Any public official caught retaining cryptocurrency holdings past the three-month mark faces potential criminal charges under the proposed legislation. No grace periods, no exceptions—just hardline enforcement against digital asset possession.

Zero-Tolerance Enforcement

The bill mandates immediate asset disclosure and liquidation within the designated window. Failure to comply triggers automatic investigations—because nothing says 'small government' like threatening public servants with prison time over their investment choices.

Legislative Overreach or Necessary Purge?

While framed as anti-corruption measure, the draconian approach reveals deeper institutional skepticism toward decentralized finance. Because clearly, the real threat to Pennsylvania isn't crumbling infrastructure or underfunded schools—it's some mid-level bureaucrat's Ethereum stash.

Another day, another attempt to criminalize financial innovation while traditional banks get away with actual crimes. Pennsylvania's playing checkers while crypto plays chess.

Democrats raise efforts to curb digital asset conflicts

Waxman’s proposal aligns with a growing effort among Democratic lawmakers to curb potential conflicts of interest tied to digital assets.

Earlier this year, Congressman Sam Liccardo proposed legislation to prevent government officials and their families from profiting from cryptocurrencies, including memecoins.

His bill sought to ban elected officials, spouses, and dependent children from issuing, promoting, or financially benefiting from digital securities and commodities, calling the measure “a way to make corruption criminal again.”

Over the years, the Democratic Party has taken a consistently cautious stance toward crypto.

Senior lawmakers such as Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Maxine Waters have argued that public officials’ involvement in digital asset markets, illustrated most recently by figures like President Donald Trump, raises ethical and legal concerns.

They have also continued highlighting risks tied to the industry, ranging from market volatility to the potential for misuse in illicit finance.