Rhode Island Senate Bill S2196

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/26
• Refer: 1/23/26

Caption

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DIGITAL ASSET KEYS--, PROHIBITION OF PRODUCTION OF PRIVATE KEYS

Summary

S2196 creates a new chapter in Rhode Island law governing digital asset keys and private keys. The bill defines a “private key” as cryptographic data used to access or execute transactions involving a digital asset, digital identity, or similar right, and states that the chapter’s purpose is to prohibit compelled production of a private key except in limited circumstances. Under the bill, no person may be forced to produce or disclose a private key in a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceeding in Rhode Island if the request relates to a digital asset, digital identity, or other interest or right that the key can access, unless a public key is unavailable or cannot provide the necessary information. The bill also clarifies that lawful proceedings may still compel a person to produce, sell, transfer, convey, or disclose the underlying digital asset or related information, but not the private key itself unless otherwise allowed by the chapter. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.

Impact

The bill would add a new statutory chapter to Title 42, State Affairs and Government, creating a specific legal protection for private keys tied to digital assets and digital identities. It would limit the ability of courts, agencies, and other proceedings in Rhode Island to compel disclosure of private keys, while preserving authority to order disclosure or transfer of the underlying digital asset or related interest. The practical effect is to strengthen privacy and custody protections for cryptocurrency and other blockchain-based assets, and to shape how evidence and asset-control disputes are handled in state proceedings.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably in committee, with the Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Tech voting 7-0 to hold it for further study. No committee transcript is provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate strong opposition or support beyond the unanimous committee action. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a technical or emerging-technology measure with at least preliminary bipartisan interest.

Contention

The main policy issue is the balance between protecting cryptographic privacy and preserving the ability of courts and agencies to enforce lawful orders. Supporters are likely to favor the bill as a safeguard against compelled disclosure of sensitive private keys, which could expose digital assets or identities to theft or unauthorized access. Potential concerns would come from law enforcement, litigants, or regulators who may view the restriction as limiting access to evidence or complicating asset recovery, although the bill attempts to address that by allowing compulsion of the underlying asset or information when the private key itself is not required.