Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that Florida businesses will be able to pay state fees in cryptocurrency beginning in 2022.

The Republican also said the state would allocate $500,000 to explore the use of blockchain technology for Medicaid payments and vehicle titles. DeSantis will also provide $200,000 to the state’s financial services department to give it the ability to accept crypto.

DeSantis has been trying to turn Florida into a crypto hub as enthusiasts for digital currency have been moving to the state where the emerging industry is being embraced. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has advocated for crypto-friendly policies at a local level and has accepted a paycheck in crypto.

"Florida encourages cryptocurrency as a means of commerce and furthering Florida's attractiveness to businesses and economic growth," DeSantis wrote in the proposal.

Wyoming has also been promoting crypto-friendly policies in order to lure some of the industry westward and help grow the state’s economy. Ohio was the first state to adopt the idea of letting taxpayers make payments in digital currency in 2018, but the idea was scrapped a year later for not meeting the state’s expected standards.

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