Bitcoin in Texas: what to know
Texas has no statewide crypto ATM limits; operators set their own. No state personal income tax, so crypto gains are not taxed by the state; federal tax still applies.
Bitcoin has one price in US dollars across the country: the price on this page is the same as on the bitcoin price in the United States page, where federal tax rules are covered in full. What differs in Texas is state law and tax, explained below.
Crypto ATMs in Texas
Texas has no kiosk-specific law; a 2025 bill (SB 1705) with a $3,000/day cap died. San Antonio has required bilingual warning signs at kiosks since July 1, 2026, and legislators are studying the issue before the 2027 session. Scammers often tell victims to pay through crypto ATMs: no government agency, bank or utility asks for payment in bitcoin.
Buying bitcoin in Texas
Exchanges and other crypto businesses serving Texas residents generally need a state money-transmitter license. Buying bitcoin carries no sales tax; you pay the exchange's spread and fees.
Tax on bitcoin in Texas
No state personal income tax, so crypto gains are not taxed by the state; federal tax still applies. Federally, the IRS treats bitcoin as property: selling, trading or spending it is a taxable event, with short-term gains (held a year or less) taxed as ordinary income and long-term gains at 0%, 15% or 20%; bitcoin received as pay or from mining is income. Exchanges and other custodial brokers report sales on Form 1099-DA: gross proceeds for sales from 1 January 2025, and cost basis for many sales from 1 January 2026. Every Form 1040 asks whether you received or disposed of a digital asset.
Texas's bitcoin reserve
SB 21 and HB 4488 (signed June 2025) created the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The state bought $5 million of BlackRock's IBIT ETF on November 20, 2025, and held about $10 million of bitcoin exposure by May 2026. It named an advisory committee on May 28, 2026, and sought a custodian to move to directly held bitcoin.
Legal and tax information last reviewed October 2026. Crypto rules change quickly — check with the regulator or tax authority, or a qualified adviser, before acting. This is not tax, legal or investment advice.