TL;DR
- The Arizona Senate has approved bill HB 2342, which prevents local governments from restricting Bitcoin mining or the operation of blockchain nodes from private homes, with 17 votes in favor and 12 against.
- The bill, introduced by Representative Teresa Martinez, now awaits final approval from Governor Katie Hobbs.
- Arizona strengthens its crypto leadership by adding this measure to other initiatives, including the proposal to use Bitcoin as a state reserve.
Arizona has taken a bold step in supporting Bitcoin adoption and digital decentralization by passing bill HB 2342. This legislation, introduced in January 2025 by Representative Teresa Martinez, aims to ensure that anyone can operate blockchain nodes or engage in cryptocurrency mining from their own home without facing restrictions from local governments. The law prohibits cities or counties from banning or regulating such activities through zoning or land-use laws, removing bureaucratic barriers that have hindered innovation in other states and stifled personal freedoms unnecessarily or without merit.
The bill also redefines the concept of “computing power” to include not only blockchain-related activities, but also high-performance technological fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced scientific research. In this way, the law seeks to establish Arizona as a comprehensive technological hub that goes beyond the crypto ecosystem. Unlike other states that have shown ambiguity or even opposition to Bitcoin mining due to energy or regulatory concerns, Arizona embraces an open approach, where technological freedom and individual innovation are at the core of its legal model. The measure has been well received by the Bitcoin community, which sees this approval as a victory against the restrictions imposed in other jurisdictions. Even blockchain infrastructure companies have begun evaluating the state as a potential destination for new installations, driven by this favorable environment.
Bitcoin as a Pillar of State Reserves
The approval of HB 2342 is not an isolated event, but part of a broader strategy. In parallel, the state Senate has advanced proposals such as the “Strategic Digital Assets Reserve Bill” (SB 1373) and the “Arizona Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act” (SB 1025), which would allow the state to hold Bitcoin and other digital assets as part of its financial reserves. These proposals even contemplate using seized cryptocurrencies and investing up to 10% of the state treasury or pension funds in BTC. Since 2022, Arizona has shown a clear interest in leading the crypto movement, disregarding federal regulatory pressures. If Governor Hobbs signs this new law, it will send a strong signal to other states: the decentralized digital future starts now.
