- New Hampshire becomes the first U.S. state to legalize a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for public funds.
- HB 302 allows up to 5% of state reserves to be held in Bitcoin, secured under strict U.S.-regulated custody rules.
- The law, backed by the Satoshi Action Fund, sets a national precedent amid growing interest from 37 other states.
New Hampshire has taken a bold step into the era of digital asset governance, setting a path for other states, by legally establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the first of its type.
On Monday, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 302 (HB 302) into law, allowing the state treasurer to distribute up to 5% of New Hampshire’s reserve funds in Bitcoin (BTC) and select high cap digital assets.
Bitcoin Reserve Law Reflects Growing State-Level Momentum
The bill, to take effect in 60 days, sets a looser precedent for states to safely and transparently incorporate cryptocurrency into their public treasury portfolios. Ayotte said in a social media statement:
“New Hampshire is once again First in the Nation! Just signed a new law allowing our state to invest in cryptocurrency and precious metals.”
Supporters of the bill include House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Brookline 33) and the New Hampshire Blockchain Council, and it was spearheaded by Representative Keith Ammon (R-Hillsborough 40). Satoshi Action Fund is a nonprofit who has been indispensable in lobbying for Bitcoin friendly legislation nationwide, and we worked with them to develop the underlying policy model.
First, under HB 302, only crypto assets with a market capitalization in excess of $500 billion may count towards composition of the reserve. The law requires holdings to be leveraged through U.S. regulated custodians, qualified custodians, or multi signature schemes including exchange traded products (ETPs) to ensure security and compliance.
“This makes New Hampshire a national leader in financial innovation,” said Dennis Porter, CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund. “This law sets forth a framework that can guide states in how to responsibly and securely adopt Bitcoin into their treasuries.”
New Hampshire Leads as States Race to Adopt Bitcoin
It is just one piece of a national trend. As of Wednesday, the Bitcoin Laws “State Reserve Race” tracker reports that 37 states have introduced similar proposals, but New Hampshire became the first of the 37 to pass it into law. Arizona, North Carolina and Texas are right behind, with Arizona’s own reserve bill, SB 1373, almost to the finish line.
New Hampshire Republicans Say Law Praise For Winning State’s Identity, Economy: ‘The Live Free or Die state is blazing a trail in shaping the commerce and digital assets of tomorrow.’
Critics warn that the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies could put public funds at risk, but supporters say the limited exposure (held at 5%) and strict custody rules strike the right balance between innovation and responsibility.
This puts New Hampshire not as the first in the nation for presidential primaries, but the first in the presential race. It’s now also the first to insitutionalize Bitcoin as part of its official reserve policy a policy that sets a new financial development for state governments across America.
