New Hampshire has enacted “The Blockchain Basic Laws” (HB 639), a legislative measure designed to protect cryptocurrency innovation and establish a dedicated dispute docket for blockchain-related matters. Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the bill into law last week.
The new legislation aims to provide legal protections for blockchain developers, businesses, and individuals engaging with digital assets. According to New Hampshire Representative Keith Ammon, the bill’s primary sponsor, the laws “protect one of the most fundamental rights in the digital economy—the right of individuals to control their own digital assets through self-custody.” He added that they “provide clear legal protections for blockchain developers, miners, validators, entrepreneurs, and businesses building the next generation of financial technology.”
A key provision of HB 639 is the establishment of a special blockchain dispute docket in the state’s superior court, intended to create a specialized venue for resolving legal conflicts arising from blockchain technology and cryptocurrency transactions.
This legislative action follows New Hampshire’s previous engagement with cryptocurrency. In May 2025, the state passed a bill allowing its treasurer to invest up to 5% of public funds in Bitcoin, alongside other assets like gold and silver. Representative Ammon had previously described this move as a way for the state to “hedge against inflation in the future.”
However, the state’s executive council recently blocked a proposal that would have enabled the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority to facilitate a Bitcoin-backed municipal bond, offering a counterpoint to the legislative efforts supporting blockchain innovation.
Representative Ammon stated, “Today, with the signing of HB 639, we have taken another major step by enacting one of the most comprehensive blockchain rights laws in the country.”
Why This Matters
The enactment of HB 639, known as The Blockchain Basic Laws act, signifies New Hampshire’s legislative efforts to protect digital asset control and provide legal clarity for blockchain-related activities.
Broader Context
Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signing of HB 639 places it within the context of New Hampshire’s recent legislative actions concerning cryptocurrency, including a prior bill allowing state investment in Bitcoin.
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