Bitcoin news: MP wants to pay council tax in bitcoin

The Conservative politician, who describes himself as a “crypto enthusiast with amateur knowledge”, is also urging fellow MPs to gain a better understanding of cryptocurrency and blockchain – the technology behind it.

“It just feels like it gets talked about a lot, wherever you go in the UK, and as MPs we have a duty to understand it,” he said.

“Only recently I met with the RNLI which is now accepting charitable donations through cryptocurrency – if we can do that, what’s to stop us being able to pay council tax and other bills with bitcoin?”

Mr Hughes’s comments come on the back of news that the US state of Ohio has launched a scheme to get businesses to register with a website that will allow them to pay corporate taxes with bitcoin.

Once successfully trialled, officials of the Midwest state intend to open up the resource to individuals.

The initiative is the brainchild of Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel who, like Eddie Hughes, is a self-confessed crypto enthusiast with a sense of duty to evangelise about the potential of bitcoin.

“We’re proud to do our small part and take this small step to make Ohio the first state in America to enable taxpayers to be able to pay via cryptocurrency,” says Mr Mandel.

“We’re doing this for two main reasons – first, to give more options and ease to taxpayers in how they pay their taxes.

“And, second, to really plant the flag in Ohio and say that Ohio is a place that’s embracing cryptocurrency, and embracing blockchain technology.”

Meanwhile, Mr Hughes would like to see a local authority in the UK “plant a flag” and take the lead in demonstrating how a similar scheme could work here.

“I’d love it, and I’d love us to be taking the lead in Walsall,” he said.

“You’re either ahead of the curve or you’re behind the curve, and our country is in an interesting position right now – we need to be seen as a progressive country.

“We are at a crossroads and we’re about to determine our future – one in which taking the lead in this field could prove very beneficial.”

The 50-year-old, who became a Member of Parliament last year, also believes wider acceptance of cryptocurrency is being hindered by a lack of information and knowledge.

“People not understanding how the transaction works is holding us back in terms of mass adoption,” he added.

“And also how accessible it can be – it needs to appear like an app that people will use so they can become familiar with it in a safe and secure way.

“People will have seen the select committee saying this sector is the Wild West and it was very low key, and suggested there was a problem with scaling up, and it was something to be avoided, but the reality is quite the opposite.”

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