A. As used in this section:

Terms Used In Virginia Code 6.2-1302.1

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Capital: means the sum of share accounts, reserves, and undivided earnings of a credit union. See Virginia Code 6.2-1300
  • Commission: means the State Corporation Commission. See Virginia Code 6.2-100
  • Credit union: means a cooperative, nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth and authorized to do business under this chapter for the purposes of encouraging thrift among its members, creating a source of credit at fair and reasonable rates of interest, providing an opportunity for its members to use and control their own money on a democratic basis in order to improve their economic and social condition, and conducting any other business, engaging in any other activity, and providing any other service that may be of benefit to its members, consistent with the provisions of this chapter and any regulations adopted by the Commission under this chapter. See Virginia Code 6.2-1300
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237

“Custody services” means the role of a credit union in the safekeeping and custody of various customer assets.

“Virtual currency” has the same meaning as provided in § 6.2-818.1.

B. A credit union may provide its customers with virtual currency custody services so long as the credit union has adequate protocols in place to effectively manage risks and comply with applicable laws and, prior to offering virtual currency custody services, the credit union has carefully examined the risks in offering such services through a methodical self-assessment process. If a credit union engages in virtual currency custody services, the credit union shall:

1. Implement effective risk management systems and controls to measure, monitor, and control relevant risks associated with custody of digital assets such as virtual currency;

2. Confirm that it has adequate insurance coverage for such services; and

3. Maintain a service provider oversight program, to the extent that the credit union engages with a service provider to provide virtual currency custody services, to address risks to service provider relationships as a result of engaging in virtual currency custody services.

C. A credit union may provide virtual currency custody services in a fiduciary or nonfiduciary capacity. In providing such services in a nonfiduciary capacity, the credit union shall act as a bailee, taking possession of the customer’s asset for safekeeping while legal title remains with the customer, such that the customer retains direct control over the keys associated with his virtual currency. To provide such services in a fiduciary capacity, the credit union shall obtain approval from the Commission as required by subsection D. In providing virtual currency custody services in a fiduciary capacity, the credit union shall receive control of the customer’s virtual currency, and new private keys shall be created to be held by the credit union. If approved by the Commission to provide virtual currency custody services in a fiduciary capacity, a credit union shall have authority to manage virtual currency assets as it would any other type of asset held in such capacity.

D. No credit union shall provide virtual currency custody services in a fiduciary capacity without first obtaining authorization to do so from the Commission. The Commission shall not grant such authority until it finds that the credit union has satisfied the following requirements:

1. The credit union’s capital structure is sufficiently strong to support the undertaking to provide virtual currency custody services;

2. The personnel who will direct the proposed virtual currency custody services have adequate experience, training, and sufficient resources to ensure compliance with laws and regulations and to protect the operations of the credit union; and

3. Granting such authority to the credit union is in the public interest.

E. The Commission may impose conditions on the authority granted to any credit union pursuant to subsection D and may suspend or revoke such authority if it finds that the credit union has failed to comply with any laws or regulations applicable to virtual currency custody services or any existing conditions imposed by the Commission or if the services are otherwise being provided in an unsafe or unsound manner.

2023, c. 303.

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