The state of Louisiana has rolled out a new option for residents to pay state utility bills using Bitcoin and Circle 's USDC stablecoin, according to a press release on September 18.
The Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife will be the first agency to accept these payments, with the potential to expand to other departments in the future. Secretary Madison Sheahan said providing digital payment options aligns with the department's goal of improving customer service.
The Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife has successfully processed its first payment through the new system and received a payment via Bitcoin 's Lightning Network.
Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming said the conversion aims to provide more flexibility for residents while ensuring the state remains unaffected by cryptocurrency market fluctuations. Accordingly, cryptocurrency payments will be converted to USD at the time of the transaction.
Fleming said:
"By introducing cryptocurrency as a payment option, we are providing another way for citizens to interact with state services while maintaining safeguards to ensure the state's financial stability."
This system will be supported by Bead Pay, a company specializing in cryptocurrency payments. This company will handle the conversion of cryptocurrency into USD. The state will not hold the cryptocurrency directly, and funds will be deposited into state accounts similar to traditional debit or credit card transactions.
Representative Mark Wright (R-Covington), who has supported laws related to digital assets, welcomed the expansion of payment options, saying:
"This is a positive step forward in providing new technologies for residents to interact with state government."
Promoting Bitcoin adoption in Louisiana
The move to accept cryptocurrency payments for state services follows a series of pro-cryptocurrency policies from the Louisiana government. Earlier this year, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill banning central bank-issued digital coins (CBDCs) and protecting residents' right to self-monitor and mine cryptocurrencies.
HB 488 prohibits state agencies from participating in federal trials related to CBDCs and ensures that individuals and businesses can freely use and store cryptocurrencies. The law also protects home and commercial cryptocurrency mining operations, making Louisiana an open state to innovation in the digital asset sector.
The latest move to integrate cryptocurrency payments into state services continues this momentum, affirming the state's broader commitment to embracing digital financial technologies while balancing them with executive oversight.
