Bank of North Dakota to Launch ‘Roughrider Coin’ Stablecoin Cryptocurrency

Bank of North Dakota / Contributed

Jacob Orledge from the North Dakota Monitor reports the Bank of North Dakota announced plans Wednesday to launch the Roughrider coin, the state’s first stablecoin cryptocurrency. Bank President Don Morgan says the digital currency will help ensure “the continued health, resilience and relevancy” of North Dakota banks and credit unions. Unlike volatile bitcoin, stablecoins are backed by U.S. dollars, allowing instant money transfers between banks. The bank is partnering with Fortune 500 company Fiserv to introduce the technology, with testing expected in 2026 pending Industrial Commission approval. Governor Kelly Armstrong says “the next generation of North Dakotans are going to be doing digital banking” and the question is whether they’ll do it with North Dakota institutions. While initially used for bank-to-bank transactions, the Roughrider coin could eventually be accepted by merchants as payment.