Oklahoma Cryptocurrency Laws

Relevant Statute

Oklahoma Statutes, Title 85 – State Banking Department, Chapter 15 – Money Service Business 85:15-1-1

“Money” Definition

“Money” means a medium of exchange that is authorized or adopted by the United States or a foreign government. The term includes a monetary unit of account established by an intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two or more governments. 85:15-1-2

“Money Transmitter” Definition

“Money transmission” means receiving money for transmission of the money or the value of the money, by any means through a financial agency or institution, a Federal Reserve Bank or other facility of one or more Federal Reserve Banks, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or both, or any other electronic network by which money or its value may be transmitted. Money transmission does not include the business of selling or issuing checks that is required to be licensed under the Oklahoma Sale of Checks Act, Title 6 O.S. § 2101 et seq. 85:15-1-2

Exemptions

The Act does not apply to: (1) the United States or a department, agency, or instrumentality thereof; (2) money transmission by the United States Postal Service or by a contractor on behalf of the United States Postal Service; (3) a state, county, city, or any other governmental agency or governmental subdivision of a State; (4) a Bank; (5) electronic funds transfer of governmental benefits for a federal, state, county, or governmental agency by a contractor on behalf of the United States or a department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or a State or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof; (6) a board of trade designated as a contract market under the federal Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. Section 1-25 (1994)] or a person that, in the ordinary course of business, provides clearance and settlement services for a board of trade to the extent of its operation as or for such a board; (7) a registered futures commission merchant under the federal commodities laws to the extent of its operation as such a merchant; (8) a person that provides clearance or settlement services pursuant to a registration as a clearing agency or an exemption from such registration granted under the federal securities laws to the extent of its operation as such a provider; (9) an operator of a payment system to the extent that it provides processing, clearing, or settlement services, between or among persons excluded by this section, in connection with wire transfers, credit card transactions, debit card transactions, stored-value transactions, automated clearing house transfers, or similar funds transfers; or (10) a person registered as a securities broker-dealer under federal or state securities laws to the extent of its operation as such a broker-dealer. 85:15-1-3

Registration Fees

$3,000 Application Fee $2,000 License Fee + $50 per authorized delegate

Bond and Insurance Requirements

(a) A surety bond, letter of credit, or other similar security acceptable to the Commissioner in the amount of $50,000 plus $10,000 per location of each authorized delegate, not exceeding a total of $500,000, must accompany an application for a license. The issuer of the security must be authorized to do business in this state and in good standing under Oklahoma law (if applicable) and the law of its state of organization. (b) Security must be in a form satisfactory to the Commissioner and payable to the Department for the benefit of (1) any claimant against the licensee and/or its authorized delegates to secure the faithful performance of the obligations of the licensee with respect to money transmission; and (2) any costs, expenses, and fees (including attorneys fees) incurred by the Department in connection with enforcement of the Act with respect to the licensee and its authorized delegates. (c) The aggregate liability on a surety bond may not exceed the principal sum of the bond. A claimant against a licensee may maintain an action on the bond, or the Commissioner may maintain an action on behalf of the claimant and/or the Department. (d) A surety bond must cover claims for so long as the Commissioner specifies, but for at least five years after the licensee ceases to provide money transmission services in this State. However, the Commissioner may permit the amount of security to be reduced or eliminated before the expiration of that time to the extent the amount of the licensee’s obligations outstanding in this State is reduced. The Commissioner may permit a licensee to substitute another form of security acceptable to the Commissioner for the security effective at the time the licensee ceases to provide money services in this State. (e) The Commissioner may increase the amount of security required to a maximum of $1,000,000 if the financial condition of a licensee so requires, as evidenced by reduction of net worth, financial losses, or other relevant criteria. 85:15-3-3

Capital Requirements

Each licensee under the Act shall at all times maintain a minimum net worth of at least Two Hundred Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($275,000.00) in order to engage in money transmission at one (1) to fifty (50) locations, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in order to engage in money transmission at fifty-one (51) to three hundred (300) locations, One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00) in order to engage in money transmission at three hundred one (301) to eight hundred (800) locations, or Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) in order to engage in money transmission at over eight hundred (800) locations. Net worth must be demonstrated annually by filing with the Commissioner, at the time of application for a license and at each time of license renewal, the most current annual audited financial statement of the licensee certified by a licensed public accountant holding a permit to practice in this state or by a certified public accountant. For purposes of this section, a financial statement shall be deemed to be current if it is no more than twelve (12) months old. Financial statements may be submitted to the Commissioner at any time in order to maintain a current status. The Commissioner may require, upon request, a more current statement than the last statement submitted by the licensee. 85:15-3-6

State Comments or Statements

The states statutory definition of money is stated as “a medium of exchange that is authorized or adopted by the United States or a foreign government” which would exclude virtual currencies from the scope of money transmission. The state has taken no official position on virtual currency money transmission.