In a groundbreaking move, New Hampshire has become the first U.S. state to pass legislation allowing Bitcoin to be included in its financial reserves. The new law, HB 302, was signed by the state’s Governor on May 6, 2025, officially establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund.
The law grants the state Treasurer authority to purchase Bitcoin and other leading digital assets, either directly or through regulated investment vehicles such as exchange-traded products (ETPs). However, to manage risk, the state is capped at holding no more than 5% of its total reserves in Bitcoin.
For security, the legislation mandates that all digital assets must be held under strict U.S.-regulated custody, whether in wallets managed by the state or through approved custodians. The policy will go into effect 60 days after the signing.
The bill was inspired by a framework developed by Satoshi Action, a nonprofit focused on educating lawmakers about Bitcoin and digital currencies. Dennis Porter, CEO of Satoshi Action, described the development as the beginning of a broader movement. “New Hampshire didn’t just pass legislation; it ignited a movement,” Porter remarked.
Key supporters who contributed to the bill’s success include Rep. Keith Ammon, a longtime advocate of Bitcoin, Majority Leader Jason Osborne, and the New Hampshire Blockchain Council.
This historic step may pave the way for other states to consider similar measures, as momentum for Bitcoin-backed state reserves continues to grow across the country.
🚨NEW: New Hampshire becomes the first U.S. state to pass a strategic $BTC reserve into law, authorizing the treasurer to purchase the world’s largest digital asset directly or through an ETP. https://t.co/pPZsIqaoIv
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) May 6, 2025
