New Hampshire Goes All-In on Crypto: First State to Bet Public Funds on Bitcoin!

Hold onto your hats, crypto fans! New Hampshire just made history by becoming the first U.S. state to greenlight its treasurer to dive into the wild world of Bitcoin and digital assets with public funds. This isn't just a small step—it's a giant leap for state-level crypto policy!

Governor Kelly Ayotte didn't hold back her excitement, signing House Bill 302 into law and shouting from the rooftops on X, "New Hampshire is once again first in the nation!" She's all in on letting the state play the crypto game alongside investing in shiny precious metals.

New Hampshire is once again First in the Nation! 🎉

Just signed a new law allowing our state to invest in cryptocurrency and precious metals. pic.twitter.com/ua9bawZKbM

But hold up, it's not a free-for-all. The state can only throw up to 10% of its general fund and other cash pools into this digital playground, and there are some tight rules on what counts as "eligible."

Want to make the cut? Your digital asset better have a market cap bigger than $500 billion, which right now means only Bitcoin (BTC) is invited to the party.

And don't worry about your precious Bitcoins getting lost—HB302's got you covered with options for secure custody, whether it's managed by the state, a regulated custodian, or through those fancy exchange-traded products.

State-led Crypto Investment: The Battle

This law didn't just waltz through the legislature. It sparked some serious fireworks. Republican Rep. Jordan Ulery was all about it, hyping up the potential for the state to rake in some serious dough. But not everyone was on board—Democratic Rep. Terry Spahr sounded the alarm, warning that this could be playing fast and loose with the state's financial security.

HB302 squeezed by in the House and then got a big thumbs up in the Senate committees before landing on Governor Ayotte’s desk. With this move, New Hampshire isn't just playing the game—they're changing it, positioning themselves as trailblazers in blending digital assets with government finance strategies.

And it's not just New Hampshire feeling the crypto fever. States like Texas and Arizona are also itching to jump on the bandwagon, though they haven't yet crossed the finish line with their own laws on state-level crypto investment.