In a major move for digital asset adoption, Arizona’s Senate has passed House Bill 2342, granting Bitcoin miners and blockchain node operators protection from local zoning laws. The bill now heads to Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk for final approval.
What HB 2342 Covers
Passed by a 17–12 vote on April 10, the bill ensures home-based crypto miners and node runners cannot be restricted by city, town, or county-level zoning ordinances.
The bill’s language is broad, covering not just blockchain-related activity but all forms of computing power—including AI training, cloud computing, and scientific workloads.
Authored by Rep. Teresa Martinez, HB 2342 signals growing interest in protecting decentralized innovation within Arizona’s borders.
Why It’s Important
Shields individuals from municipal crackdowns on home-based mining or computing.
Offers legal support to developers, researchers, and crypto enthusiasts.
Reflects Arizona’s intent to become a hub for digital infrastructure.
Part of a Larger Crypto Push in Arizona
HB 2342 is just one of several crypto-forward proposals making waves in Arizona:
- Bills advancing through the House Rules Committee could:
- Authorize up to 10% of state retirement or treasury funds to be held in Bitcoin.
- Allow crypto lending strategies for idle funds.
- Permit the state to hold and deploy seized crypto assets for investment purposes.
- Authorize up to 10% of state retirement or treasury funds to be held in Bitcoin.
If passed, Arizona could pioneer state-level digital asset reserves—a bold move not yet seen elsewhere in the U.S.
Governor Hobbs: Final Decision Rests Here
The biggest obstacle now is Governor Katie Hobbs, who has vetoed 22% of all bills so far in 2024. She previously blocked legislation that sought to exempt crypto mining from taxation, suggesting caution toward broad deregulation.
Still, HB 2342’s bipartisan support and growing public backing give supporters hope that Arizona will embrace this step toward crypto adoption.
