New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte signed a law that safeguards self-custody and use of digital assets, as well as the operation of nodes, mining, and staking.
The bill, HB 639, also exempts certain industry participants from money transmitter licensing and establishes a separate judicial process for blockchain disputes. It will take effect on August 18, 2026, 60 days after signing.
What the Law Protects
The law prohibits state and local authorities from restricting the use of digital assets for purchasing legal goods and services, as well as from hindering self-custody in wallets. Additionally, it prevents the imposition of taxes or fees solely due to payment with digital assets, though standard transaction fees still apply.
HB 639 specifically protects the right to run nodes, connect to blockchain protocols, transfer digital assets, and participate in staking.
“Laws on fundamental rights in blockchain protect one of the core rights of the digital economy—the right for individuals to control their digital assets,” quoted New Hampshire House Majority Leader Keith Ammon in Decrypt.
Mining cryptocurrencies and staking with personal funds will not be considered an offer or sale of securities under state law. A similar exemption applies to exchanges, provided the assets remain under the control of the platform or their owner.
The law also removes liability for specific transactions from miners, node operators, and staking service providers if their involvement was limited to technical validation. It is noted that these exemptions pertain to New Hampshire law and do not negate the requirements of federal regulators in the U.S.
Court to Open Blockchain Dispute Proceedings
HB 639 allows the state Supreme Court to establish a separate process for blockchain-related disputes. This requires a separate order and the consent of the parties involved.
The proceedings can address violations of the new regulations, contract disputes, fraud, fiduciary duties, and other complex matters. The first presiding judge can be appointed by the governor with the consent of the Executive Council. The candidate must have experience in law and technology.
Authorities Warn of Weakened Oversight
In the fiscal note accompanying the bill, the state Department warned that HB 639 would limit the Securities Bureau's authority over mining and certain staking services.
The agency will lose the ability to seek restitution for investors and impose fines in cases that fall under the new exemptions. These powers will not be transferred to another state enforcement agency.
The judicial system pointed out several ambiguities. Specifically, the document does not clearly explain how the provisions regarding smart contracts relate to existing contract law and which court should handle specific disputes regarding cryptocurrency trusts. The agency estimates this could increase the number of litigations.
New Hampshire Continues Its Path on Crypto Regulation
HB 639 builds on recommendations from the cryptocurrency and digital assets commission established by former Governor Chris Sununu. Lawmakers stated they aim to attract responsible blockchain companies to the state and reduce legal uncertainty.
In May 2025, New Hampshire became the first U.S. state to allow the creation of a crypto reserve. The Treasury was granted the authority to allocate up to 5% of certain public funds into precious metals and digital assets with a market capitalization exceeding $500 billion on average over the previous calendar year. Among cryptocurrencies, only Bitcoin met this criterion.
However, in July 2026, the Executive Council rejected the CleanSpark bond project for $100 million backed by digital gold. The decision was made by a vote of three to two.
It is worth noting that in the same month, Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration's initiative to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the U.S. faced obstacles due to disagreements among departments regarding the structure and oversight implementation.