Is Bitcoin Taking Over? New Hampshire Reserve Bill Dominates the House Committee Vote 16-1!

New Hampshire is advancing cryptocurrency adoption with a new Bitcoin reserve bill recently approved by the House committee. This legislation aligns with a national trend, permitting state funds to include digital assets and precious metals. As multiple states push similar measures and federal conversations continue, cryptocurrency’s role in government reserves is becoming more significant. This shift highlights the growing influence of digital assets in state financial strategies.

Bitcoin in State Treasuries? New Hampshire Moves Closer

New Hampshire’s House committee has passed a bill to create a New Hampshire reserve. This bill was passed with a dominant vote of 16-1, as shared by Crypto Laws in an X post. As such, the bill will wait for a full House floor vote. As Bill 302 passes the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, it becomes the seventh bill in the House. The bill will allow for a 5% investment in crypto from New Hampshire’s treasury. This can be from the general fund or any other state fund that has been authorized by the legislature.

NEW HAMPSHIRE Update:

Bitcoin Reserve Bill HB302 has passed the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee.

The vote was 16 – 1 pic.twitter.com/7DpzFzxgda

— Bitcoin Laws (@Bitcoin_Laws) March 6, 2025

Bitcoin has not been specially named in the Bill 302. However, it is specified that only digital assets with an average market capitalization of $500B for a year are permitted. So, although not mentioned, currently, BTC is the only cryptocurrency that meets this criteria. Moreover, this bill also requires that the purchased cryptocurrencies be held by a reputable custodian. These assets can also be reserved as exchange-traded products. Beyond digital assets, the bill also will allow the purchase of precious metals like gold for the New Hampshire Reserve.

Key Changes to New Hampshire’s Bitcoin Reserve Bill

This new state reserve bill was introduced by republican Keith Ammon. Bill 302 was introduced on January 10 and was also co-sponsored by two Democrats named Chris McAleer and Carry Spier. In Wednesday’s House committee session, it was mentioned that the bill has seen some changes. Firstly, according to Ammon, the possibility of investing in stablecoins and staking has been removed. Secondly, the bill’s previous version allowed up to 10% of funds to be invested in digital assets. This has been amended and reduced to 5% of state funds. 

Bitcoin Takes Center Stage with Crypto Reserve Bills

USA’s adoption of crypto in state-level institutions and governments has been growing rapidly. Mostly spearheaded by Republican politicians and representatives, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Arizona have all introduced crypto reserve bills. The bills from Utah and Arizona have already passed the full House vote. The reserve bills from New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma, however, await this stage.

The progress of state crypto adoption has been going smoothly as the federal government is also making a crypto reserve. In a Truth Social post, United States President Donald Trump announced a strategic crypto reserve on March 3. He named Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP (XRP), and Cardano (ADA) as the currencies included in the reserve. However, the realistic possibility of the inclusion of altcoins in the national reserve has been questioned. As such, it is speculated that the reserve will only hold BTC.

The Rise of Digital Reserves: How Fast Will States Adapt?

The acceptance of Bitcoin and state crypto adoption represents a major financial policy shift. Digital assets now stand alongside traditional reserves like gold. If New Hampshire adopts this bill, other states may follow, boosting cryptocurrency use in government finance. However, obstacles remain, including unclear regulations and market instability. Future changes could refine the rules, expand eligible digital assets, or raise investment limits. As states embrace crypto, the focus shifts to how fast and efficiently they will integrate it.