Arizona Cryptocurrency Laws

Relevant Statute

Arizona Revised Statutes §6-126 et seq.

“Money” Definition

“Money” means a medium of exchange that is authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government as a part of its currency and that is customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance.

“Money Transmitter” Definition

“Money transmitter” means a person who is located or doing business in this state, including a check casher and a foreign money exchanger, and who does any of the following:
(a) Sells or issues payment instruments.
(b) Engages in the business of receiving money for the transmission of or transmitting money.
(c) Engages in the business of exchanging payment instruments or money into any form of money or payment instrument.
(d) Engages in the business of receiving money for obligors for the purpose of paying that obligor’s bills, invoices or accounts.
(e) Meets the definition of a bank, financial agency or financial institution as prescribed by 31 United States Code section 5312 or 31 Code of Federal Regulations section 1010.100.
6-1201

Additional Definitions

“Payment instrument” means a check, draft, money order, traveler’s check or other instrument or order for the transmission or payment of money sold to one or more persons whether or not that instrument or order is negotiable. Payment instrument does not include an instrument that is redeemable by the issuer in merchandise or service, a credit card voucher or a letter of credit.
“Transmitting money” means the transmission of money by any means including transmissions within this country or to or from locations abroad by payment instrument, wire, facsimile, internet or any other electronic transfer, courier or otherwise.
“Engage in the business” means conducting activities regulated under this chapter more than ten times in any calendar year for compensation or in the expectation of compensation. For purposes of this paragraph, “compensation” means any fee, commission or other benefit.
6-1201

Exemptions

A. This chapter does not apply to:

1. The United States or any department or agency of the United States.

2. This state, including any political subdivision of this state.

B. This chapter does not apply to the following if engaged in the regular course of their respective businesses, except that the provisions of article 2 of this chapter apply to:

1. A bank, financial institution holding company, credit union, savings and loan association or savings bank, whether organized under the laws of any state or the United States when the term “money transmitter” is used.

2. A person who engages in check cashing or foreign money exchange and engages in other activity regulated under this chapter only as an authorized delegate of a licensee acting within the scope of the contract between the authorized delegate and the licensee.

3. A person licensed pursuant to chapter 5, 6, 7 or 8 of this title, chapter 9, article 2 of this title, chapter 12.1 of this title or title 32, chapter 9.
6-1203

Registration Fees

$1,500.00

Bond and Insurance Requirements

A. Each application for a license shall be accompanied by and each licensee shall maintain at all times a bond executed by the licensee as principal and a surety company authorized to do business in this state as surety. The bond shall be in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars for a licensee with five or fewer authorized delegates and locations, one hundred thousand dollars for a licensee with more than five but fewer than twenty-one authorized delegates and locations and an additional five thousand dollars for each authorized delegate and location in excess of twenty but fewer than two hundred one authorized delegates and locations, to a maximum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars and an additional five thousand dollars for each authorized delegate and location in excess of two hundred authorized delegates and locations, to a maximum of five hundred thousand dollars.
B. The bond shall be conditioned on the faithful compliance of the licensee, including its directors, officers, authorized delegates and employees, with this chapter. The bond shall be payable to any person injured by the wrongful act, default, fraud or misrepresentation of the licensee, his authorized delegates or his employees or to the state for the benefit of the person injured. Only one bond is required for any licensee irrespective of the number of officers, directors, locations, employees or authorized delegates of that licensee.
C. The bond shall remain in effect until cancelled by the surety, which cancellation may be had only after thirty days’ written notice to the superintendent. That cancellation does not affect any liability incurred or accrued during the thirty day period.
6-1205

Bond Alternatives and Additional Insurance Requirements

D. In lieu of the bond prescribed in this section, an applicant for a license or a licensee may deposit with the superintendent cash or alternatives to cash acceptable to the superintendent in the amount of the required bond. Notwithstanding section 35-155, subsection E, the principal amount of the deposit shall be released only on written authorization of the superintendent or on the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The principal amount of the deposit shall not be released to the licensee before the expiration of five years from the first occurrence of any of the following:

1. The date of substitution of a bond for a cash alternative unless the superintendent determines in his discretion that the bond constitutes adequate security for all past, present or future obligations of the licensee. After that determination, the cash alternative may be immediately released.

2. The surrender of the license.

3. The revocation of the license.

4. The expiration of the license.
6-1205

Capital Requirements

A. Each applicant for a license shall have and each licensee shall maintain at all times a net worth of at least one hundred thousand dollars, calculated according to generally accepted accounting principles.

B. Any licensee who is engaged in the business regulated under this chapter at more than one location pursuant to section 6-1207 or through authorized delegates pursuant to section 6-1208 shall have an additional net worth of fifty thousand dollars for each location or authorized delegate located in this state, as applicable, to a maximum of five hundred thousand dollars.

C. A licensee whose business conducts a total of more than five hundred thousand dollars in transactions that involve transmitting money in an amount of one thousand dollars or more during the preceding year shall maintain net worth in addition to the amounts required by subsections A and B of this section. The additional net worth shall be not less than ten per cent of the total of such transactions conducted in this state, calculated according to generally accepted accounting principles to a maximum of five hundred thousand dollars.
6-1205.01