The governor of New Hampshire signed House Bill 302, making it the first state in the United States to accept cryptocurrencies for state business.
The bill allows the state treasurer to invest up to 5% of the New Hampshire reserves into digital assets with market capitalizations greater than $500 billion, a category that only Bitcoin meets.
And while the bill specifically allows for the use of crypto for certain types of state payments, it also calls on the state to request federal authorization of a broader program.
All digital assets must be held via a state-controlled multisig wallet, a licensed custodian, or a U.S.-regulated ETP so that public funds don’t go up in flames, says the law.
Diverse Approaches: Attitude Toward Bitcoin Reserves in Other States
After all, while New Hampshire has agreed to integrate crypto into its public finances, other U.S. states have proceeded with caution. In Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1025, which would have permitted as much as 10% of the state’s treasury and pension funds to be invested in digital assets.
Hobbs highlighted the extreme lows and highs of crypto assets and how they have not been around for long enough in institutional finance as the main cause for concern.
In the same vein, House Bill 487 and Senate Bill 550 were indefinitely postponed on May 3 and withdrawn from consideration during a discussion at the conclusion of Florida’s 2025 legislative session.
The decisions reflect a wider national split about the risk and reward of embracing digital assets at the state level.
Bitcoin Market Overview
According to CoinMarketCap As of May 7, 2025, Bitcoin is trading around $96,580 with a 24-hour trading volume of $31.77 billion and a total market capitalization of $1.92 trillion. Bitcoin’s dominance level is at 50% on the button. Bitcoin has held onto most of the gains over the last 2 days, and the market cap is at $180 billion.
Although it has had wild swings, some financial experts and institutions still regard Bitcoin as a digital store of value similar to gold. Its increasing use by governments and corporations reflects its deepening integration into global financial systems and multi-decade investment strategies.
Bitcoin Price Predictions
Analysts have thrown out a variety of projections when it comes to where Bitcoin’s price is going:
Year | Predicted Price Range | Source |
2025 | $96,548 – $104,342 | Changelly |
2026 | $101,375 – $125,000 | OKX |
2027 | $106,444 – $150,000 | CoinCodex |
2028 | $111,766 – $200,000 | CoinDCX |
2030 | $123,223 – $285,000 | Cointelegraph |
These estimates have been based on many things, like market conditions, institutional adoption, and macroeconomic circumstances.
Conclusion
An Overview of House Bill 302 and How it Impacts the State’s Financial Plans The passing of House Bill 302 in New Hampshire is a clear indicator of how one U.S. state is taking the expansion of digital assets seriously. N.H. is letting 5% of public funds go into the cryptocurrency that dwarfs the list with a market cap over $500 billion—Bitcoin.
The state is trying to diversify the treasury in ways that would protect it from traditional market fluctuation. This development could mark a turning point in the attitude of public entities toward digital assets, away from skepticism and toward strategic use.
Should more jurisdictions follow suit, cryptocurrencies may be drawn into the public finance space in a more pronounced manner, which may in turn transform the aspects of reserve management and overall long-term planning on the part of governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does New Hampshire’s Bitcoin law let the state do?
up to 5% of state reserves of Bitcoin and digital assets with a market cap not less than \$500B (as of November 1st, 2017) to be invested in only Bitcoin.
2. How will the state keep its cryptocurrency holdings safe?
Storage can be done through multi-signature wallets, regulated exchange-traded products (ETPs), and qualified custody solutions for maximum security and compliance.
3. Why does New Hampshire love Bitcoin?
The idea is to spread out public funds more, decrease reliance on traditional markets, and perhaps even hedge against inflation or currency devaluation down the line.
4. Are other U.S. states eyeing similar crypto strategies?
Yes. Arizona and Florida may have proposed crypto bills, but they were vetoed or withdrawn, with opponents citing wild volatility and uncertain long-term financial stability.
Glossary of Key Terms
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
A decentralized digital currency using blockchain technology to enable peer-to-peer transactions. It is the first and largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
2. House Bill 302 (HB 302)
A New Hampshire legislative act allows the state to invest up to 5% of public funds in digital assets, starting with Bitcoin due to its scale.
3. Digital Assets
Digitally stored assets, such as cryptocurrencies or tokenized commodities, that represent value and can be transferred or traded on blockchain networks.
4. Market Capitalization
The total value of a cryptocurrency is calculated by multiplying the current price by its total circulating supply. Used to gauge an asset’s scale and stability.
5. Multisignature Wallet (Multisig)
A digital wallet requires multiple private keys to authorize a transaction, enhancing security by distributing control among several parties or devices.
6. Qualified Custodian
A financial institution authorized to hold assets on behalf of clients under regulatory standards, offering secure storage and regulatory compliance for digital assets.
7. Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs)
Financial instruments traded on traditional markets that track digital asset prices, allowing investors to have regulated exposure to cryptocurrencies without direct ownership.
8. Public Treasury Reserves
Funds held by a government or state for long-term fiscal stability are often diversified across assets to mitigate financial risks and preserve value.
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