New Hampshire Becomes the First U.S. State with an Official Crypto Reserve: What This Means for the Economy and the Future of Digital Assets
In a landmark move toward integrating cryptocurrencies into public finance, the Governor of New Hampshire has signed a bill allowing the creation of a state reserve made up of digital assets. With this, New Hampshire becomes the first U.S. state to officially authorize the investment of a portion of the state budget into Bitcoin and other high-cap cryptocurrencies.
According to the adopted law, the state treasury may allocate up to 5% of all public funds** into digital assets whose market capitalization exceeds $500 billion USD. As of now, only a few cryptocurrencies meet this requirement, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
When the Law Takes Effect
The law will take effect 60 days after it is signed. During this period, New Hampshire authorities plan to develop the technical and regulatory framework for storing and managing crypto reserves. The plan includes using custodial solutions with multisignature wallets and independent audits to ensure asset security.
The Governor stated that “creating a crypto reserve is not just an investment — it’s a strategic step toward financial diversification, technological openness, and resilience against inflation and market volatility.”
Contrast with Other Regions
While New Hampshire takes this progressive step, other states and countries remain more cautious or outright dismissive. For example, Florida recently withdrew a bill to establish a Bitcoin reserve, citing “uncertain risks” and insufficient infrastructure readiness.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Finance Minister officially ruled out the creation of a BTC reserve in the state treasury, emphasizing that cryptocurrencies currently lack the “necessary stability” to be included in national financial reserves.
International Initiatives: Bhutan and Binance Pay
On the international stage, there are growing examples of state-level cryptocurrency integration. One such case is the initiative of the Kingdom of Bhutan, which, in partnership with Binance Pay, is launching the world’s first national crypto payment system in the tourism sector.
Travelers will now be able to pay with crypto for visas, hotels, flights, and tours, which officials say will enhance the country’s tourism appeal, simplify transactions, and offer greater flexibility in working with international clients.
This move by Bhutan may serve as a model for other countries — particularly developing ones — seeking a technological leap by bypassing traditional banking barriers.
ETFs and Regulation: Slow Progress in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to delay decisions related to cryptocurrency investment products. It was recently revealed that the SEC postponed its review of a proposed Litecoin (LTC)-based ETF from Canary Capital.
This highlights that, despite growing interest in digital assets, U.S. regulators remain cautious when it comes to approving new crypto products.
New Hampshire’s creation of a crypto reserve marks a pivotal moment that may inspire other states to follow suit. Amid global financial turbulence and growing interest in decentralized assets, such a policy may prove promising both from an investment and political standpoint.
Whether New Hampshire becomes a model for digital public reserves remains to be seen. But what’s already clear is that cryptocurrencies are stepping out of the shadows and beginning to play a role not just in private investments, but also in state economies.
