New Hampshire Pioneers U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Legislation

New Hampshire has made history as the first U.S. state to enact a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” law. Governor Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 302 on Tuesday, authorizing the state treasurer to allocate up to 10% of the general fund—and other approved funds—into precious metals and digital assets with market capitalizations above $500 billion, a threshold currently met only by Bitcoin.

Dennis Porter, founder of the Satoshi Action Fund, which championed the bill, celebrated the move: “History just tilted toward sound money in the ‘Live Free or Die’ state. Moments ago, Governor Ayotte signed HB 302 into law, creating the nation’s first Bitcoin & Digital Assets Reserve Fund.” Under the new framework, New Hampshire can invest directly in Bitcoin or through exchange-traded products, with options for both self-custody and qualified custodial services.

HB 302 passed the state House by a 192–179 vote and cleared the Senate 4–1 on April 23, spearheaded by Representative Keith Ammon. The law aligns with similar proposals under consideration in states like Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Texas. Meanwhile, Florida’s legislature recently postponed two crypto reserve bills indefinitely, highlighting the varied pace of state-level crypto adoption.

New Hampshire’s bold move underscores a growing trend toward embracing digital assets as part of sound-money strategies. As more states explore comparable initiatives, the Granite State’s pioneering legislation could serve as a blueprint for integrating Bitcoin into public finance, reinforcing its “Live Free or Die” ethos with a modern twist.