New law limits local zoning restrictions
Arizona lawmakers have passed HB 2342, a bill aimed at protecting individuals who mine Bitcoin or operate blockchain nodes from home. The legislation prevents local governments from enacting zoning laws or usage restrictions that would prohibit these activities.
The bill cleared the Arizona Senate in a narrow vote and now awaits Governor Katie Hobbs’ signature. If signed, it will make Arizona the most miner-friendly state in the country.
Expanding the definition of protected computation
The bill’s scope includes not just crypto mining, but also AI workloads, cloud computing, and high-performance research computing carried out at home. It positions residential computation as a protected activity of “statewide concern.”
This mirrors similar efforts in other states, but Arizona is leading the pack in aligning legal protections with crypto infrastructure growth.
Part of a broader crypto adoption plan
HB 2342 is part of a suite of crypto-forward initiatives in Arizona. Lawmakers recently advanced the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, which would allow the state to hold Bitcoin in treasury reserves. Arizona is also exploring using seized cryptocurrencies as part of a sovereign digital asset strategy.
With 26 states considering similar bills, Arizona is racing to become a national hub for crypto infrastructure and policy innovation. If the governor signs HB 2342 into law, it could create a template for other states to follow.
