New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte has signed HB 639, dubbed the Blockchain Basic Laws, into effect last week. The legislation provides new legal protections for cryptocurrency users, miners, validators, developers, and businesses operating on public blockchains. It explicitly safeguards the right to self-custody digital assets.
A standout provision allows the New Hampshire Superior Court to establish a dedicated docket for blockchain-related disputes. This means cases involving digital assets will be handled by judges with specialized knowledge, rather than being randomly assigned across the general civil calendar.
Representative Keith Ammon, the bill’s primary sponsor, stated, “With Governor Ayotte’s signature on HB 639, New Hampshire has once again demonstrated that it intends to lead the nation in blockchain innovation.” He emphasized the law protects “the right of individuals to control their own digital assets through self-custody” and offers “clear legal protections for blockchain developers, miners, validators, entrepreneurs, and businesses.”
The New Hampshire Blockchain Council called it “another historic day” in a social media post, declaring the state now has “one of the nation’s strongest legal frameworks protecting blockchain innovation and digital asset rights.”
The signing follows a May 2025 strategic Bitcoin reserve bill signed by Ayotte, which allows the state treasurer to allocate up to 5% of public funds into Bitcoin, gold, and silver. However, not all crypto initiatives have advanced; just last week, the Executive Council rejected a plan to promote Bitcoin-backed municipal bonds.
