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HB 72

Criminal Use of Cryptocurrency Amendments

2026 General Session Introduced by Brady Brammer and 1 co-sponsor

HB 72 adds criminal penalties for cryptocurrency-facilitated crimes, clarifying Utah law to address digital asset misuse in criminal activity.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 72

Legislative bill overview

HB 72 amends Utah's criminal statutes to address the unlawful use of cryptocurrency in criminal activities. The bill, sponsored by Representative Ryan Wilcox, creates or modifies criminal penalties related to cryptocurrency transactions used to facilitate crimes. While specific language is not yet publicly available due to the bill's early stage, the focus appears to be on closing legal gaps in how state law treats digital currency misuse in criminal contexts.

Why is this important

As cryptocurrency use expands, law enforcement faces challenges prosecuting crimes involving digital assets under existing statutes written before cryptocurrencies existed. This bill attempts to clarify criminal liability and provide prosecutors with explicit tools to charge cryptocurrency-facilitated crimes. Clear legal definitions can improve both enforcement consistency and predictability for legitimate cryptocurrency users.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition precision: Overly broad definitions of "criminal use" could inadvertently criminalize legitimate cryptocurrency transactions or services
  • Technology vs. law mismatch: Cryptocurrency evolves faster than legislation; the bill's language may become outdated quickly or fail to address emerging technologies like privacy coins
  • Privacy advocates' concerns: Enhanced cryptocurrency tracking mechanisms may raise civil liberties questions about financial surveillance and Fourth Amendment protections

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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