Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida in a new budget proposal has recommended to the state government that businesses be allowed to pay state fees using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC).
The suggestion was included in the governor’s budget proposal for 2022–2023, which was released on Dec. 9.
DeSantis suggested providing $200,000 to the Department of Financial Services to allow Florida firms to “pay state fees via cryptocurrencies directly to the Department of State,” according to the official budget summary.
The document adds, “Florida welcomes cryptocurrencies as a means of commerce, enhancing Florida’s attractiveness to businesses and economic growth.”
DeSantis also proposed funding another $500,000 to research the use of blockchain technology to keep track of motor vehicle data, validate Medicaid transactions, and detect fraud.
According to the budget plan, the whole $700,000 is committed to enabling a crypto-friendly Florida.
Florida is steadily establishing itself as a significant cryptocurrency-friendly jurisdiction in the United States, with one of its major cities, Miami, being advertised as the “world’s Bitcoin and crypto capital.”
Miami and cryptocurrency
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez declared last month that he hoped to be the first U.S. politician to accept Bitcoin as part of his salary. According to reports, the official holds both BTC and Ether (ETH).
The city commissioners of Miami opted in September to accept revenues created by the new MiamiCoin cryptocurrency, which was introduced in August using the smart contracts platform CityCoins.
According to the city mayor, MiamiCoin will be available to all Miami citizens in the form of a Bitcoin dividend, having earned more than $21 million in yields as of mid-November.
