Utah joins Texas & Arizona as leaders in blockchain policy and innovation
Utah is one of three states recognized as a “Trailblazer” in a new rating of the blockchain industry by blockchain oracle network Chainlink and the Blockchain Association.
The new industry resource, titled “Tokenized in America,” highlights how all 50 U.S. states are progressing across blockchain policy, workforce concentration and other key indicators. The results spotlight which states are positioning themselves to lead in the next era of finance, the report authors said.
The scorecard evaluates each state on how it is shaping the future of digital assets and tokenized finance across six metrics: active government-led blockchain pilots, active pro-crypto task forces, state legislative support, blockchain workforce concentration, strategic Bitcoin reserve initiatives and active membership in the North American Blockchain Association (NABA).
Each state received one of four designations based on its overall progress: Trailblazer, Accelerator, Initiator or Explorer. These categories reflect the different ways states are engaging with blockchain adoption and help spotlight what effective leadership looks like at the state level.
Texas, Arizona and Utah earned Trailblazer status for their strength in both policy and ecosystem development. Other leading states — including North Carolina, California, New Hampshire and Wyoming — demonstrated strong engagement across several scorecard categories.
“This scorecard aims to provide state leaders the clarity and tools to take meaningful action. This initiative shows where momentum is building and how states can engage with digital assets in a responsible, forward-looking way,” said Sarah Milby, chief policy officer at the Blockchain Association.
“With so much occurring at the federal level, we cannot overlook the substantial activity occurring in the states,” said Adam Minehardt, head of policy for Chainlink Labs. “‘Tokenized in America’ is helping shine a light on the important role these states are playing when it comes to digital assets, providing insight into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
“With the GENIUS Act passing the U.S. Senate and more states advancing digital asset legislation, launching crypto task forces and exploring blockchain pilots, momentum behind state-level adoption is accelerating,” the
study said.
The GENIUS Act, officially titled the “Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act,” is legislation that establishes a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. It aims to provide clear guidelines for the issuance, backing and oversight of stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, often pegged to the U.S. dollar. The act seeks to foster innovation while also ensuring consumer protection and financial stability.
A separate study commissioned by BNY Mellon found that 97 percent of institutional investors believe tokenization will “revolutionize asset management.” States that move fastest are gaining a first-mover advantage in attracting investment, talent and long-term economic growth, the study concluded.