New Hampshire Governor Signs HB 639, Codifying the Right to Self-Custody Digital Assets

New Hampshire has enacted HB 639, a package described as the state's "Blockchain Basic Laws." Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the measure into law, and the New Hampshire Blockchain Council is now promoting its rollout. HB 639 is designed to protect residents' right to self-custody digital assets—allowing individuals to hold cryptocurrency in their own wallets rather than through a bank or exchange. The law also affirms the ability to use cryptocurrency to pay for lawful goods and services without interference from federal, state, or local governments. The statute further aims to prevent blockchain infrastructure activity from being swept into regulatory frameworks built for traditional financial institutions. It explicitly addresses operations such as running a node, mining, and staking, seeking to avoid automatically treating these activities as "money transmission" or "securities" activity. It also provides protections for blockchain validators, limiting legal exposure tied solely to performing validation. In addition, the law creates a "Blockchain Dispute Docket," a specialized court track or procedure staffed by judges or officials with blockchain expertise. The intent is to resolve blockchain- and cryptocurrency-related disputes faster and with greater predictability than a general court process. HB 639 builds on New Hampshire's earlier move to establish a state-level "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" in May 2025. Under HB 302, the state treasurer was authorized to invest up to 5% of public funds in Bitcoin. Keith Ammon, President of the New Hampshire Blockchain Council and the legislation's prime sponsor, said the governor's signature signals that New Hampshire intends to lead the U.S. in blockchain innovation. He added that entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and innovators nationwide should view the state as open for blockchain business. The legislative push comes as New Hampshire has also been debating a separate plan that would allow up to $100 million in taxable revenue bonds to finance a borrower's purchase of Bitcoin tied to CleanSpark. If authorized, the proposal would be another example of Bitcoin treasury strategies extending beyond conventional debt and equity markets. In summary, HB 639 formalizes the right to self-custody digital assets and establishes guardrails for individuals and companies operating in the sector, aligning with the broader policy direction set by the state's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve framework.