New Hampshire Registers Bill Protecting Digital-Asset Payments, Self-Custody and Barring Additional Taxes

New Hampshire has completed registration of a bill that would provide legal protections for digital-asset payments, self-custody, node operation, mining and staking.

Crypto-focused outlet Odaily reported on July 3 that New Hampshire House Bill 639, or HB 639, had completed the registration process. The measure covers the use of blockchain and digital currencies, as well as procedures for resolving related disputes.

The bill would prohibit state and local governments from restricting an individual's use of digital assets. That includes using digital assets to purchase lawful goods or services and holding them in either a self-custody wallet or a third-party wallet.

A self-custody wallet allows users to manage their own private keys rather than entrusting them to an exchange or other intermediary.

The measure also would ban additional taxes or charges imposed solely because digital assets are used for payment. In effect, it would block separate taxation, withholding or fees based only on the use of digital assets in a transaction.

The bill also addresses node operation, mining and staking. State and local governments would be barred from prohibiting individuals or businesses from operating nodes to connect to blockchain protocols, transferring digital assets or participating in staking.

A node is a device that stores and validates blockchain transaction records as part of the network. Staking refers to committing assets on a proof-of-stake blockchain to participate in network validation.

The bill specifies that home digital-asset miners, mining businesses and node operators would not need separate money-transmitter licenses. It also says that mining or staking with one's own funds or digital assets would not be treated as the issuance or sale of securities.

Exchange staking services also would not be considered securities sales if they meet certain conditions. The bill says state authorities could take separate action against businesses that falsely claim to offer staking services.

The measure would also establish a separate process for civil disputes involving blockchain. It would allow the New Hampshire Supreme Court to create a dedicated court division for blockchain-related disputes. That process would cover civil cases involving blockchain technology, smart contracts, digital-asset transactions, and related contracts, fraud, misrepresentation and breaches of fiduciary duty.

The bill is set to take effect 60 days after passage.

The legislation would give digital-asset users and blockchain businesses in New Hampshire a clearer legal framework. Its core provisions protect payments and self-custody while separating node operation, mining and staking from traditional financial licensing and securities regulation.