Prohibits the compelled production of a private key as it relates to a digital asset, digital identity or other interest or right.

Rhode Island Bill: Protecting Digital Private Keys

This bill would make it illegal for the government or any other party to force someone to hand over their "private key" — a secret password or code used to access digital assets like cryptocurrency, digital wallets, or other digital accounts and identities. Think of a private key like the combination to a personal safe; it's the only way to access what's stored inside a digital account, and this bill would prevent anyone from being legally compelled to give it up.

The bill affects anyone in Rhode Island who owns or uses digital assets (such as Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies), digital identities, or similar digital rights and interests. Under this legislation, even if a court or government agency wanted access to someone's digital holdings, they could not legally demand that the person hand over their private key to gain that access. This would apply broadly to individuals, businesses, and organizations that use digital asset technology.

It's worth noting that this bill raises important questions about the balance between individual privacy and law enforcement's ability to investigate crimes. Supporters would likely argue it protects personal financial privacy and digital rights, while critics might raise concerns about how it could affect criminal investigations involving digital assets. The bill has been referred to the Senate's Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology committee and is scheduled for a hearing in April 2026, meaning it is still in the early stages of the legislative process.