Svmuu reports that the U.S. state of Minnesota has officially passed and signed into law Bill HF 3709, allowing banks and credit unions to offer cryptocurrency custody services, further clarifying the business boundaries of financial institutions in the digital asset space. The bill, signed by Governor Tim Walz, will take effect on August 1, 2026. It stipulates that relevant financial institutions must establish risk management, internal control, and security policies before engaging in crypto custody, submit a notification to the state's Department of Commerce 60 days prior to launching services, and ensure that client assets are strictly segregated from the institution's own assets.
The bill aims to enable local financial institutions to offer crypto services within a regulatory framework, reducing users' reliance on overseas or unregulated platforms and enhancing asset security. At the same time, Minnesota recently passed Bill SF 3868, which prohibits the establishment of new crypto ATMs within the state and requires existing machines to be phased out, sparking market concerns about further tightening of on-ramp access for cryptocurrencies.
Currently, several U.S. states, including New York, Wyoming, and Virginia, already permit banks to engage in crypto custody services, indicating a divergence in regulatory paths at the state level. (The Block)