PANews reported on June 17th that, according to Crypto Briefing, Illinois has become the first state in the U.S. to tax digital asset transactions. Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 3019, which includes the Digital Asset Tax Act, imposing a 0.2% business tax on brokers who trade, transfer, or hold digital assets for clients in the state. The act is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027, and is projected to generate approximately $60 million in tax revenue for the state annually. This tax targets business activity, not profits; traditional securities brokers do not face similar tax burdens in Illinois.

Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti criticized the tax for being quietly included in the budget without sufficient public debate. The Chamber of Digital Commerce and the Illinois Blockchain Association jointly opposed it, calling the tax "substantially flawed, procedurally deficient, and economically destructive." Illinois already passed the Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act in August 2025, and this tax further alters the state's regulatory direction. Industry groups argue that the tax, targeting only a single asset class, provides crypto businesses with a reason to relocate to other states.