Georgia Bill Proposes Gold as Legal Tender

The "Transactional Gold and Silver Act" aims to make gold and silver legal currency in the state.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:31am

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A bill filed in the Georgia Senate would make gold and silver legal tender, meaning it could be used as currency in the state. The bill, known as the "Transactional Gold and Silver Act", has been sponsored by 17 Georgia senators and is being considered during the 2026 legislative session. The act would allow Georgians to pay for goods and services directly with gold and silver, rather than having to first sell the precious metals for U.S. dollars.

Why it matters

The bill is aimed at providing Georgians with an alternative to the U.S. dollar, which has seen significant fluctuations in value in recent years. Proponents argue that gold and silver have maintained their value over time and can serve as a hedge against inflation. The move is also seen as a way to give more people access to the gold market, which has traditionally been dominated by larger investors.

The details

The bill requires gold and silver to be at least 99.5% pure to qualify as legal tender. It also allows private e-commerce companies to act as state-approved platforms for gold and silver transactions. The physical depositories and overall implementation would be overseen by a state commission, providing "safety and oversight at the state level." Georgians would be able to use a debit card-like system to make purchases directly with their gold or silver holdings.

  • The bill, SB 424, was introduced in the Georgia Senate on January 27, 2026.
  • The bill is being considered during the 2026 legislative session.

The players

Marty Harbin

A Republican state senator from Tyrone, Georgia, who introduced the "Transactional Gold and Silver Act".

Ken Ivory

A Utah state representative who helped pass a law making gold and silver legal tender in Utah over a decade ago.

Glint

A UK-based company that offers a platform and app for buying, selling, and using gold and silver as currency. Glint has plans to expand its operations to the United States.

The Brink's Company

A security and logistics company that operates depositories where gold and silver could be stored under the Georgia bill.

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What they’re saying

“For instance, gold today for one ounce is $5,200, but with transactional gold, you could take $50 or $25 and buy it fractionally. Basically, we've broken it down to where the average person, or below, if he just wants to put something in a stable source like gold, he can do that.”

— Marty Harbin, State Senator (USA Today)

“We've invested a total of about $109 million and that's now worth, goodness, nearly $200 million, so we're up $85, $90 million in less than a year on that rainy day fund investment.”

— Ken Ivory, State Representative (USA Today)

“This is an economic justice issue for me, I believe everybody should have an equal opportunity to prosper, and unfortunately, we don't.”

— Jason Cozens, CEO, Glint (USA Today)

What’s next

The bill, SB 424, must pass votes in the Georgia Senate and House before being signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp.

The takeaway

The Georgia bill to make gold and silver legal tender reflects a growing interest in alternative currencies as a hedge against inflation and a way to give more people access to the gold market. If passed, it would make Georgia the latest state to adopt gold and silver as legal tender, following in the footsteps of Utah and others.