New Hampshire becomes first state to approve Bitcoin treasury investments, now eyes $100M Bitcoin-backed bond
Governor Kelly Ayotte has signed legislation allowing 5% of public funds into Bitcoin and approved a landmark municipal bond backed by crypto collateral.
New Hampshire just did what 49 other states haven’t. Governor Kelly Ayotte signed HB 302 on May 6, 2025, making the Granite State the first in the nation to legally permit limited treasury investments in Bitcoin and precious metals.
The law allows up to 5% of certain public funds to be allocated to digital assets. For a state whose license plates literally read “Live Free or Die,” the move tracks.
From treasury allocation to Bitcoin-backed bonds
In November 2025, the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority approved a $100 million municipal bond backed by Bitcoin as collateral. A state agency is using Bitcoin to underpin traditional debt instruments.
The bond structure is designed so that taxpayers aren’t directly exposed to Bitcoin’s price volatility. Wave Digital Assets and Rosemawr Management are involved as partners, with BitGo serving as custodian for the crypto collateral.
A public hearing on the bond issuance is scheduled for around July 8, 2026.
Why New Hampshire, and why now
Ayotte has leaned into the state’s identity as a policy innovator. She has frequently stated that “New Hampshire is once again first in the nation” when discussing these crypto-friendly policies.
What this means for investors and the broader market
For Bitcoin specifically, the implications center on legitimacy and utility. Every time Bitcoin gets used as collateral in a regulated financial structure, it chips away at the “speculative toy” narrative.
There are real risks to watch. Bitcoin’s volatility means the collateral backing these bonds could fluctuate significantly. If Bitcoin’s price drops sharply, there would need to be mechanisms in place, like margin calls or additional collateral requirements, to protect bondholders. The structure reportedly includes taxpayer protections, but the details of those protections will matter enormously when the public hearing arrives in mid-2026.
Institutional partners like Wave Digital Assets and BitGo lending their names to the bond adds a layer of credibility that purely state-driven initiatives might lack.