Overview
- New Hampshire's HB 302 allows the state treasurer to invest up to 5% of public funds in Bitcoin and precious metals, with Bitcoin currently being the only qualifying digital asset.
- Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the bill into law on May 6, 2025, making New Hampshire the first U.S. state to establish a cryptocurrency reserve.
- The law specifies secure custody options, including direct treasury holdings, qualified custodians, or regulated exchange-traded products like ETFs.
- Efforts to pass similar legislation in Arizona and Florida failed earlier this year, with Arizona's governor vetoing a comparable bill.
- The initiative builds on President Trump's March 2025 executive order to create a national Bitcoin reserve, highlighting growing state and federal interest in cryptocurrency as a hedge against inflation.