West Virginia Lawmakers Advance Digital Infrastructure and Blockchain Policy in January
January marked a significant moment for West Virginia’s legislative landscape, with multiple actions signaling growing momentum around digital infrastructure, advanced compute, and modern financial technology. From the adoption of a new House resolution to the passage of key legislation and federal-level developments involving West Virginia’s U.S. Senator, the month underscored the state’s increasing role in shaping how technology, energy, and economic development intersect.
The West Virginia Blockchain Foundation (WVBF) was on the ground engaging with policymakers, educators, and economic development leaders as these milestones unfolded, continuing our mission to provide education, policy context, and community outreach around blockchain technology and digital infrastructure.
House Resolution HCR 4: Establishing a Framework for Study and Coordination
The House of Delegates adopted House Concurrent Resolution 4 (HCR 4), a measure that formally recognizes the need for coordinated study and discussion around emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, and their economic implications for the state.
HCR 4 reflects a growing understanding that issues such as data centers, artificial intelligence, blockchain systems, and high-density compute are no longer abstract concepts. They are real economic drivers tied to energy planning, workforce development, and regional competitiveness. By creating a formal framework for continued review and collaboration, the resolution helps ensure that legislators, agencies, and local leaders remain engaged with these rapidly evolving sectors.
For WVBF, this represents an important step toward broader digital literacy at the policy level and a platform for continued educational engagement with public officials across the state.
House Bill 4008: Recognizing the Role of High-Performance Compute and Flexible Load
House Bill 4008 (HB 4008) moved forward this month, highlighting the role of high-performance computing (HPC), data centers, and other large-scale digital infrastructure within West Virginia’s broader energy and economic strategy.
The legislation acknowledges that facilities such as data centers and compute-intensive operations can function as “flexible loads” on the power grid, helping balance supply and demand while supporting long-term investment in generation and transmission infrastructure.
For communities, this means:
New pathways for industrial site reuse, particularly at former manufacturing and energy locations
Opportunities for skilled technical jobs and workforce training
Increased local tax base and infrastructure investment
WVBF views HB 4008 as a signal that West Virginia is positioning itself to attract next-generation industries that rely on reliable, scalable power and secure digital systems.
Federal Momentum: Clarity Act Markup in the U.S. Senate
At the federal level, West Virginia’s U.S. Senator Jim Justice played a role in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s passage of a markup advancing the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act . While federal legislation operates on a separate track from state law, these developments are closely watched by state policymakers and industry participants alike.
The Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act aims to create a clear federal framework for regulating crypto markets by treating many digital assets as “digital commodities” and putting their spot trading primarily under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). It would require crypto exchanges, brokers, dealers, and custodians to register with the CFTC, follow rules on customer fund segregation, disclosures, conflicts of interest, and record-keeping, and meet basic consumer-protection standards. The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the bill in a 12–11 party-line vote, a historic first step for federal crypto market structure legislation.
For West Virginia, federal clarity can complement state-level efforts by:
Lowering barriers for companies considering in-state investment
Supporting innovation in areas such as tokenized U.S. Treasuries, digital securities, and payment systems
Providing a more stable policy environment for entrepreneurs and financial institutions
Education and Engagement: Turning Policy into Opportunity
As these legislative actions move forward, WVBF continues to focus on translating policy momentum into practical understanding for communities across the state.
Throughout January, we engaged with lawmakers, county officials, educators, and economic development professionals to discuss how these measures connect to real-world applications, including:
How blockchain technology is already being used in financial markets for tokenized assets and settlement
What data centers and advanced compute mean for local energy planning and workforce development
How small businesses and students can prepare for emerging opportunities in digital and financial technology sectors
We are particularly committed to expanding outreach to historically underrepresented communities, including Black-owned businesses and students at West Virginia’s colleges and universities, to ensure equitable access to knowledge and opportunity.
Looking Ahead
January’s legislative activity highlights a growing recognition that West Virginia’s future competitiveness will be shaped by how effectively it integrates energy, digital infrastructure, and modern financial systems.
WVBF will continue to follow these developments, provide educational resources, and serve as a bridge between policymakers, industry, and communities. We invite stakeholders across the state to connect with us as we work to build a future where West Virginia is not only an energy leader, but also a hub for secure, innovative, and inclusive digital infrastructure.
The West Virginia Blockchain Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, policy engagement, and community outreach around blockchain technology, digital assets, and digital infrastructure.