South Carolina Governor Signs Bill S.163 to Protect Bitcoin Self-Custody Rights and Prohibit Discriminatory Taxation

South Carolina Governor has signed Bill S.163. This bill prohibits any government entity from accepting or requiring payment in, or participating in testing of, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs); permits individuals or businesses to transact using digital currencies; stipulates that digital assets must not be treated differently; specifies that digital currency transactions may be taxed only if the tax rate applied is identical to that applied to transactions conducted using U.S. legal tender; restricts certain digital currency operations within areas zoned for industrial use; mandates that digital asset mining operations must not impose any additional strain on the electrical grid to which they connect; requires digital mining enterprises to provide certain information upon request by the Public Service Commission; exempts persons engaged in digital mining operations from obtaining certain licenses; clarifies that persons providing certain services related to digital mining or staking do not constitute securities transactions; authorizes the Attorney General to bring legal action against individuals or entities that fraudulently claim to offer digital asset mining or staking services; and defines necessary terms.