Meme Coin Ban for California Officials Signed by Governor

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law banning state and local public officials from issuing meme coins.

Alex Dovbnya · 27 Sep 2026 · 4 min read

Wire content from U.Today

Meme Coin Ban for California Officials Signed by Governor

News

By
Alex Dovbnya

Sun, 27/09/2026 – 18:52

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law banning state and local public officials from issuing meme coins.

Meme Coin Ban for California Officials Signed by Governor

Cover image via depositphotos.com

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation barring state and local public officials from issuing meme coins.

The bill, which specifically prohibits politician-linked tokens, passed the California Senate 40-0 and the Assembly 78-0 before reaching Newsom’s desk.

A California “public officer” will not be able to issue a meme coin from now on. That definition covers state and local elected and appointed officials, members of the Legislature, and members of government boards, commissions, and committees, including bodies with only advisory powers.

HOT Stories

Meme Coin Ban for California Officials Signed by Governor

Brandt Takes Fresh Shot at XRP ‘Cult’

Defining what a meme coin is is pretty challenging, and the bill applies a rather broad definition. It covers digital assets associated with internet memes, public figures, celebrities, fictional characters, current events, online humor, and so on.

Notably, digital asset service providers will be banned from offering California residents meme coins issued on or after Jan. 1, 2027.

It is important to stress that tokens such as Dogecoin are not outlawed, so this is not a statewide meme coin ban.

Why California is banning officials from issuing meme coins

California lawmakers state that financial instruments issued or promoted by government officials can create conflicts of interest, opportunities for “pay-to-play” arrangements, and risks of foreign influence. Blockchain wallets can be controlled pseudonymously, which potentially creates fertile ground for corruption.

Meme coins are now extremely easy to create, and those pseudonymous crypto transactions could allow foreign actors, special interests, and so on.

No criminal enforcement

The new law provides civil rather than criminal enforcement. California’s attorney general can seek an injunction to stop violations and ask a court to order the disgorgement of potentially ill-gotten money. District attorneys, city attorneys, and county counsel can pursue violations of the prohibition on California officials and public employees issuing meme coins.

#California
#Meme Cryptocurrencies

News
Sep 27, 2026 – 18:12

Ethereum Really Not Just Blockchain Anymore, Founder Vitalik Declares

ByCaroline Amosun

News
Sep 27, 2026 – 15:54

Shiba Inu Nears 88 Trillion Threshold as Recovery Stalls

ByCaroline Amosun

Latest Press releases

XT Exchange Lists Ri-Nn (RIN), a Layer 1 Project Focused on Connected Devices

Streamex Converts Interest Into Capital as GLDY Investment Strategy Secures $1M+ Institutional Allocation

NOWPayments Releases Cross-Chain Payout Data Revealing Key Performance Benchmarks Across TRON, BNB Chain, and Solana