California officially launches a state-level cryptocurrency licensing system, requiring businesses to comply with DFAL by July of this year

According to Decrypt, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has released an implementation update for the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL), which clearly requires all individuals or companies providing cryptocurrency-related services to California residents to hold a DFAL license, submit a license application, or meet exemption criteria by July 1, 2026, or face enforcement actions.

The DFAL was signed into effect by California Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2023, establishing a statewide licensing and regulatory framework for cryptocurrency assets, covering various digital asset services and cryptocurrency ATM terminals. This system is widely compared to New York's BitLicense introduced in 2015.

According to the schedule, DFAL license applications will open on March 9, 2026, through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). Regulators recommend that businesses review the checklist in advance and participate in the industry training on March 23.

California accounts for about a quarter of all blockchain companies in the United States. Joe Ciccolo, Executive Director of the California Blockchain Advocacy Coalition (CBAC), stated that since California is the fourth-largest economy in the world, its regulatory path may drive companies to unify compliance standards nationwide. "Clear and predictable rules help attract serious operators and institutional capital," but he also warned that if enforcement is too aggressive or disconnected from industry realities, some companies may choose to exit the California market or move overseas.