South Carolina Signs Bitcoin Rights Law — Self-Custody, Mining, and Tax Protections Now on the Books!

South Carolina Governor has signed S.163 into law, making the state one of the clearest legislative defenders of Bitcoin rights in the United States. The bill enshrines three core protections: the right to self-custody Bitcoin without state interference, a ban on discriminatory taxation targeting Bitcoin specifically, and explicit safeguards for proof-of-work mining operations within state borders.

The legislation signals a deliberate effort by South Carolina lawmakers to attract Bitcoin-aligned businesses and residents at a time when regulatory clarity remains uneven across US states. By codifying self-custody rights, the state draws a hard line against any future attempt to mandate custodial intermediaries — a concern that has grown louder as federal-level discussions around digital asset oversight intensify.

For miners, the proof-of-work protection removes a key political risk that…