California regulates cryptocurrency under the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) with a focus on consumer protection and enforcement actions against unlicensed crypto lending and overcharging. The state operates under the Digital Financial Assets Law (AB 39, 2023) and the California Money Transmission Act.
| Status | Legal |
| Risk Score | 35/100 (Moderate Risk) |
| Region | north america |
| Currency | USD |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | DFPI |
| Framework | Digital Financial Assets Law (AB 39, 2023); California Money Transmission Act |
| Ease | medium |
| Cost (USD) | $50,000 - $500,000 |
Licensing is required for crypto lending and money transmission activities; enforcement actions have been taken against unlicensed operators.
Enforcement focused on unlicensed operators and consumer protection
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | No |
| FATF Status | fsrb_only |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: regulated
DeFi activities are regulated under California's financial laws with a focus on consumer protection and licensing requirements.
Status: regulated
Stablecoins are regulated under the state's financial regulatory framework to ensure consumer protection and compliance.
Status: no_rules
No specific NFT regulation
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.1/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 20% |
| Infrastructure | excellent |
Mining is legal with moderate electricity costs and good infrastructure; renewable energy accounts for 20% of electricity.
| Stability | very_stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 67/100 |
| Banking Access | open |
Risk Factors
California benefits from stable political and regulatory environment with strong consumer protections and open banking access for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-04-13 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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