SENATE No. 38

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court

(2025-2026)

RESOLVE ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL COMMISSION ON BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY TECHNOLOGY.

Resolved, that there shall be a special commission for the purposes of making an investigation relative to blockchain technology to develop a master plan of recommendations for fostering the appropriate expansion of blockchain technology in the Commonwealth; provided, however, that for the purposes of the special commission, “blockchain” shall mean a mathematically secured, chronological and decentralized ledger or database.

The special commission shall consist of 25 members: the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the president of the senate or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the minority leader of the house of representatives or a designee; the minority leader of the senate or a designee; 4 members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 4 members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; the attorney general or a designee; the chair of the cannabis control commission or a designee; the commissioner of the department of revenue or a designee; the secretary of technology services and security or a designee; the secretary of public safety and security or a designee; 3 persons to be appointed by the state secretary, of whom not less than 1 shall represent an organization focused on consumer protection; and 5 persons to be appointed by the governor, of whom not less than 1 shall be an appointee from a financial technology company, not less than 1 shall be an appointee of a company with a business model that uses blockchain technology for purposes other than digital assets and not less than 2 appointees shall represent institutions of higher education in the commonwealth. All appointments shall be made not later than 45 days after enactment. The chairpersons shall meet with the commission not later than 90 days after enactment.

The commission shall be charged with examining the following:

(i) The feasibility, validity and admissibility as well as risks, including privacy risks, and benefits of using blockchain technology in state and local government and Massachusetts-based businesses; provided, however, that, for the purposes of government use, the commission’s examination shall include, but not be limited to: (A) consideration of government records and delivery of services; (B) court proceedings; (C) statewide registries including for firearms, marijuana or opiates; and (D) election nomination papers, voter records and election results; and provided further, that, for the purposes of business use, the commission’s examination shall include but not be limited to consideration of the advisability of allowing corporate records to be maintained using blockchain technology, including any security requirements necessary to ensure their accuracy;

(ii) The need for modifications to the definition of blockchain contained herein and in any applicable general law to effect the appropriate deployment of blockchain technology;

(iii) The impact of the proliferation of the cryptocurrency industry on state revenues and the need, if any, to restructure the commonwealth’s tax framework, including the advisability of taxing cryptocurrency transactions as part of the sales tax;

(iv) The advisability of government agencies and relevant business enterprises including, but not limited to, cannabis retail stores accepting payment in cryptocurrency;

(v) The feasibility of regulating the energy consumption associated with cryptocurrency;

(vi) Any consumer protection activities necessary to provide safeguards or offer technological literacy to Massachusetts residents including, but not limited to, the advisability of licensure requirements;

(vii) Best practices for enabling blockchain technology to benefit the commonwealth, Massachusetts-based businesses, and Massachusetts residents, including an examination of historical barriers to entry and participation in emerging technologies and markets for individuals underrepresented in these industries and markets;

(viii) The state agency or agencies best equipped to provide oversight of blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency industry, including with respect to consumer protection; and

(ix) Any other related topic which the commission may choose to examine in relation to blockchain technology.

The commission shall take input from a broad range of stakeholders with a diverse range of interests affected by state policies governing emerging technologies, privacy, business, finance, the courts, the legal community and state and local government.

Not later than 1 year after all appointments to the special commission have been made, the special commission shall report to the general court the result of its investigation and its master plan of recommendations to foster a positive blockchain technology environment, together with drafts of legislation necessary to effect its recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate.

Massachusetts S 38

Special Commission on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

2025 MA S 38

Massachusetts S 38

Special Commission on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

2025 MA S 38