88R10139 MLH-F     By: Capriglione H.B. No. 1666       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the commingling of funds by digital asset service   providers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle E, Title 3, Finance Code, is amended by   adding Chapter 160 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 160. DIGITAL ASSET SERVICE PROVIDERS          Sec. 160.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Customer funds" means the digital assets, fiat   currency, or other property of a digital asset customer.                (2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of   Banking.                (3)  "Digital asset" means a natively electronic asset   that confers economic, proprietary, or access rights and is   recorded or stored in a blockchain, cryptographically secured   distributed ledger, or similar technology, and includes:                      (A)  a digital asset that the laws of any country   consider to be legal tender; or                      (B)  virtual currency as defined by Section   12.001, Business & Commerce Code.                (4)  "Digital asset customer" means a person who   deposits fiat currency or a digital asset with a digital asset   service provider.                (5)  "Digital asset service provider" means an   electronic platform that facilitates the trading of digital assets   on behalf of a digital asset customer and maintains custody of the   customer's digital assets.          Sec. 160.002.  APPLICABILITY. (a) This chapter applies to a   digital asset service provider in this state that:                (1)  serves more than 500 digital asset customers in   this state; or                (2)  has at least $10 million in customer funds.          (b)  This chapter does not apply to:                (1)  a bank, as defined by Section 31.002;                (2)  an institutional trading division or accredited   investor division of a digital asset service provider; or                (3)  an institution excluded by rule from this chapter   by the banking commissioner of Texas.          Sec. 160.003.  DUTIES OF DIGITAL ASSET SERVICE PROVIDERS.   (a) A digital asset service provider may not:                (1)  commingle customer funds with funds belonging to   the digital asset service provider, including the digital asset   service provider's:                      (A)  operating capital;                      (B)  proprietary accounts;                      (C)  digital assets;                      (D)  fiat currency; or                      (E)  other property that is not customer funds;                (2)  use customer funds to secure or guarantee a   transaction other than a transaction for the customer contributing   the funds;                (3)  maintain customer funds in such a manner that a   digital asset customer may be unable to fully withdraw the   customer's funds; or                (4)  invest in an obligation not listed under   Subsection (b)(2).          (b)  In addition to any other requirements under state law, a   digital asset service provider shall maintain reserves in an amount   sufficient to fulfill all obligations to digital asset customers.   These reserves may be held:                (1)  in a commingled account in which digital assets of   digital asset customers are not strictly segregated from each   other; or                (2)  in the digital asset corresponding to the digital   asset customer's obligations or obligations issued or guaranteed by   a governmental entity listed in Section 2256.009, Government Code,   as applicable.          (c)  A digital asset service provider shall create a plan to   allow:                (1)  each digital asset customer to view at least   quarterly an accounting of:                      (A)  any outstanding liabilities owed to the   digital asset customer; and                      (B)  the digital asset customer's digital assets   held in reserve by the digital asset service provider; and                (2)  an auditor to access and view at any time the   information made available to each digital asset customer under   Subdivision (1).          (d)  Not later than the 90th day after the end of each fiscal   year, a digital asset service provider shall file a report with the   department. The report must include:                (1)  an attestation by the digital asset service   provider of outstanding liability to digital asset customers,   documented using zero-knowledge encryption or a similar industry   standard;                (2)  evidence of customer assets held by the person,   documented using zero-knowledge encryption or a similar industry   standard;                (3)  a copy of the provider's plan under Subsection (c);   and                (4)  an attestation by an auditor that the information   in the report is true and accurate.          Sec. 160.004.  REQUIREMENTS FOR MONEY TRANSMISSION LICENSE.   (a) In addition to any other requirements under Subchapter D,   Chapter 151, a digital asset service provider must comply with the   requirements of this chapter to obtain and maintain any money   transmission license under Subchapter D, Chapter 151.          (b)  The department may suspend and revoke a money   transmission license issued under Subchapter D, Chapter 151, to a   digital asset provider if the provider violates the requirements of   this chapter.          Sec. 160.005.  RULES. The department may adopt rules   necessary to implement this chapter.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.