New Hampshire just became the first U.S. state to officially hold Bitcoin as part of its treasury. The governor signed a new law called HB 302, which opens the door for the state to store a small portion of its financial reserves in Bitcoin or other major cryptocurrencies.
Key Points
- New Hampshire can now hold up to 5% of its treasury in Bitcoin.
- A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund will be created for this purpose.
- Storage must follow strict U.S. security and oversight guidelines.
With the new law in place, New Hampshire can now create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund. That’s just a fancy name for a crypto savings account. They’re allowed to store up to 5% of their total reserves in digital assets. It’s not a huge percentage, but enough to test how Bitcoin performs over time without putting the entire state budget at risk.
Think of it like a test run. If the value of Bitcoin drops suddenly, only a small part of the funds are affected. If the value rises, the state benefits from the upside.
Security is a top priority
Holding Bitcoin is not the same as keeping dollars in a bank. That is why the law comes with some strict conditions. The crypto must be safely stored, either in the state’s own digital wallets or with an officially approved custodian. Everything will be done under the supervision of U.S. agencies, following all required regulations.
The law kicks in 60 days after being signed. Once that happens, New Hampshire can start buying Bitcoin for its reserve.
How did we get here?
HB 302 did not appear out of thin air. Behind the scenes, a nonprofit group called Satoshi Action worked hard to educate lawmakers about Bitcoin. Their CEO, Dennis Porter, sees this as more than just one state making a financial move.
“New Hampshire has not just passed a law. They’ve started a movement,” Porter said.
Local supporters like Keith Ammon and Jason Osborne, along with the New Hampshire Blockchain Council, also helped push the plan forward. These are people who believe crypto can play a strong role in future economic systems.
Will other states follow?
That is the big question now. With New Hampshire taking the first step, others might be paying attention. Interest in Bitcoin is growing across the world, so it would not be a surprise to see more states explore similar ideas.
What once looked like “magic internet money” now sits on the balance sheet of a U.S. state. Whether you are new to Bitcoin or already holding some, that’s a move worth watching.
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