The Senate Commerce Committee’s vote on a bill to deregulate crypto mining in New Hampshire ended in a divide on Thursday, following a noticeable increase in public feedback since its last discussion.
After two prior deadlocks, one for advancing the bill and another for rejecting it, the committee ultimately voted 4–2 to refer the measure for further interim study, as initially reported by the New Hampshire Bulletin.
House Bill 639 aims to prevent municipalities from enacting restrictions on crypto mining, including regulations regarding electricity usage or noise, and would ban state and local authorities from imposing unique taxes on digital assets.
If passed, the bill would also affirm the rights of individuals and businesses to mine cryptocurrencies, and propose establishing a dedicated blockchain docket within the state’s superior court, where disputes related to crypto would be handled by a judge appointed by the governor.
During its first vote in May, senators returned the measure to the committee for language adjustments and to gather more support. Sponsored by Republican Representative Keith Ammon, the bill is expected to return for a full Senate vote in 2026.
On Thursday, Senator Tara Reardon of Concord shared with the New Hampshire Bulletin that the proposal had generated an unprecedented volume of emails for a single bill.
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Crypto mining in the US
Crypto mining utilizes computing power to validate transactions and secure proof-of-work blockchains like Bitcoin, rewarding miners with newly minted coins.
Although criticized for its high energy usage and environmental ramifications, the industry has evolved significantly since its inception.
A recent report by the MiCA Crypto Alliance and data firm Nodiens highlighted that coal’s contribution to Bitcoin mining dropped from 63% in 2011 to 20% in 2024. Concurrently, the proportion of renewable energy used in mining has steadily increased, averaging a 5.8% annual growth.
Nonetheless, some US states are moving to counteract energy consumption via state taxes. On Oct. 2, New York State Senator Liz Krueger introduced a bill for a tiered excise tax on energy utilized by crypto mining operations.
This measure would exempt miners using up to 2.25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, while those consuming between 2.26 million and 5 million kWh would incur a 2-cent tax per kWh.
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