Following a growing trend among U.S. states, Oklahoma is set to join Arizona and New York in potentially adopting crypto use. This development comes after an Oklahoma senator, Dusty Deevers, proposed the Bitcoin Freedom Act (SB325) on January 8. 

According to details from the proposed bill, the act would allow employees and residents to choose to receive their salaries in Bitcoin while enabling vendors to accept BTC payments.

While some experts are cautious about this move, Dusty defended the act in a statement released on his X account. 

“In a time when inflation is eroding the purchasing power of hard-working Oklahomans, Bitcoin provides a unique opportunity to safeguard earnings and investments,” Deevers stated. He further emphasized the need for Oklahoma to act decisively as Bitcoin's value rises and the dollar's purchasing power diminishes due to excessive printing by Washington D.C.

On closer inspection, the proposed bill aims to ensure that participation remains entirely voluntary, upholding free-market principles and empowering individuals and businesses to select their preferred payment methods. 

According to the bill's text, one of its key objectives is to “establish a framework for the secure use of Bitcoin by the State of Oklahoma, private enterprises, and individual residents,” while also “authorizing Bitcoin as an acceptable medium for transactions, salaries, and investments.”

The Bitcoin Freedom Act is slated for discussion during the 60th legislative session beginning on February 3. 

Deevers has been vocal about his concerns regarding high inflation rates in the U.S., stating on X on January 8: “If Washington D.C. can ruin something, it likely will. And it is certainly ruining the U.S. dollar.” He reiterated his commitment to advocating for the financial well-being of his constituents and mitigating the adverse effects of inflation.

Read also: Luxury Brands Embrace Bitcoin as a Payment Method

In addition to his legislative efforts, Deevers has expressed skepticism about central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), arguing that they facilitate government overreach and surveillance. He stated on X on January 9 that such currencies grant authorities undue power to monitor, control, and restrict individual transactions, thereby undermining financial privacy and freedom. 

In contrast, he praised Bitcoin for promoting financial sovereignty:

“Its decentralized and censorship-resistant nature allows individuals to maintain full control over their finances without government interference or inflationary manipulation.”

It's important to note that Senator Deevers’ proposed bill is receiving warm welcomes from various stakeholders and experts in the state. 

Popular Crypto enthusiasts, David Bachman, commented on X saying, “This is great news. People need to stop paying so much attention to price and start focusing on the number of leaders who are bringing legitimacy in the public eye to adoption of the Bitcoin standard. We're nearing a tipping point, and when it happens heads will explode!”

It's important to note that inflation in the U.S. has been rising since September 2024 and currently sitting at 2.7%, according to Trading Economics. For more context, inflation during the pandemic-induced lockdowns peaked at over 9% in mid-2022—its highest level in four decades. This data forms the basis of Dusty's argument to validate the Bitcoin Freedom Act.

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