coinpedia 2025-05-06 17:05:32

Breaking: New Hampshire Becomes First U.S. State to Officially Hold Bitcoin in State Reserves

The post Breaking: New Hampshire Becomes First U.S. State to Officially Hold Bitcoin in State Reserves appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News In a major first for the United States, New Hampshire has passed a new law allowing the state to hold Bitcoin as part of its financial reserves. The bill, known as HB 302, was signed into law on May 6, 2025, by the state’s Governor. This makes New Hampshire the first state in the nation to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund. The law gives the state’s Treasurer the power to buy Bitcoin and other major digital assets directly or through a regulated investment product like an exchange-traded product (ETP). However, there’s a limit — the state can only hold up to 5% of its total funds in Bitcoin to balance risk. 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 To ensure safety, the law requires all digital assets to be stored under strict U.S.-regulated custody, either in state-controlled wallets or with approved custodians. The new policy will officially take effect 60 days after its signing. The bill was inspired by a model created by the nonprofit group Satoshi Action, which works to educate lawmakers about Bitcoin and digital assets. Dennis Porter, the group’s CEO, said this is more than just a bill — it’s the start of a movement. “New Hampshire didn’t just pass a bill; it sparked a movement,” Porter said. Several important figures helped make this happen, including Rep. Keith Ammon, an early Bitcoin supporter, Majority Leader Jason Osborne, and the New Hampshire Blockchain Council. This landmark decision could open the door for other U.S. states to follow New Hampshire’s lead as interest in Bitcoin-backed financial reserves grows nationwide.