A Senate Commerce Committee vote on a bill aimed at deregulating cryptocurrency mining in New Hampshire was split Thursday, after senators reported that public reaction to the bill had risen since it was last debated.
After deadlocking twice, once when the bill was introduced and again when it was rejected, the committee ultimately voted 4-2 to send the measure for further review in an interim study, as it had done first. I mentioned By New Hampshire Bulletin.
House Bill 639 It would prevent municipalities from imposing restrictions on cryptocurrency mining, such as rules regarding electricity use or noise, as well as preventing state and local authorities from imposing unique taxes on digital assets.
The bill, if approved, would also affirm the right of individuals and companies to mine cryptocurrencies, and calls for the creation of a dedicated blockchain docket within the state Supreme Court, where disputes related to cryptocurrencies would be handled by a judge appointed by the governor.
During the bill’s first vote in May, Sens He came back This is a measure for the committee to adjust its language and garner more support. The bill is sponsored by Republican Representative Keith Ammon, and is expected to be presented to the full Senate in 2026.
On Thursday, Sen. Tara Reardon of Concord told the New Hampshire Journal that the proposal had generated the most emails she had ever received for a single bill.
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Cryptocurrency mining in the United States
Cryptocurrency mining uses computing power to verify transactions and secure proof-of-work blockchains like Bitcoin, rewarding miners with newly created coins in the process.
Although it has been criticized for its high energy consumption and environmental impact, the industry has made significant progress since its early days.
A new report from the MiCA Crypto Alliance and data firm Nodiens found that coal’s share of Bitcoin mining fell from 63% in 2011 to 20% in 2024. Over the same period, the use of renewable energy in mining has grown steadily, rising at a rate of 5.8% annually.
However, some US states try to offset energy consumption through state taxes. On October 2, New York State Senator Liz Krueger introduced a bill to impose a graduated excise tax on energy used in cryptocurrency mining operations.
The measure would exempt miners who consume up to 2.25 million kilowatt-hours annually, while those who use between 2.26 million and 5 million kilowatt-hours would face a tax of 2 cents per kilowatt-hour.
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