Ohio Launches Buckeye Billfold, Becoming 1st State to Accept Crypto for Agency Payments
Updated
Updated · WTOL · May 21
Ohio Launches Buckeye Billfold, Becoming 1st State to Accept Crypto for Agency Payments
2 articles · Updated · WTOL · May 21
Ohio said residents and businesses will soon be able to pay participating state agencies through its new Buckeye Billfold wallet using credit cards, ACH transfers and cryptocurrency.
Crypto payments will be converted into U.S. dollars instantly at checkout rather than held as digital assets, a structure officials say speeds settlement, cuts costs and moves funds directly into the state's banking system.
Treasurer Robert Sprague said the program was built to modernize public finance and expand payment flexibility, while Secretary of State Frank LaRose cast it as an early move to position Ohio in the digital economy.
The launch follows Ohio's failed 2019 crypto-tax payment effort, which the attorney general said lacked proper authorization; officials say State Board of Deposit changes last year fixed that, and the board approved Grant Street Group in September 2025 to process payments.
By instantly converting crypto to dollars, is Ohio truly adopting digital assets or just using them as a payment rail?
Amidst federal warnings of crypto's crime risks, how will Ohio's new digital wallet protect public funds from illicit finance?
Are Ohioans ready for the complex new tax burdens created by every single crypto payment they make to the state?
Buckeye Billfold: Ohio’s Historic Launch as the First State to Accept Crypto for Government Payments
Overview
Ohio has taken a bold step in public finance by launching the Buckeye Billfold, the first state program in the U.S. to officially accept cryptocurrency for state agency payments. This initiative, led by Treasurer Robert Sprague, reflects a strong commitment to modernizing the Treasurer’s office and advancing operations into the future of public finance. By introducing the Buckeye Billfold, Ohio aims to empower residents and businesses, providing them with access to cutting-edge technology and flexible payment options. This move sets a significant national precedent for how government entities can integrate emerging financial technologies.