Rep. Brian Heath Labrie of the New Hampshire State House of Representatives said on March 6 that the state should address fraud through clear statewide guardrails, enforcement, and consumer education rather than allowing cities and towns to create a patchwork of local restrictions.
Labrie’s comments come as lawmakers consider Senate Bill 482, which aims to set uniform rules for crypto kiosks across New Hampshire. The bill’s said purpose is to establish “reasonable and uniform consumer protections” while still permitting “lawful and responsible” kiosk operations statewide, reinforcing an anti-fraud, pro-clarity approach instead of an anti-business one, according to Labrie’s op-ed in the Union Leader.
“The Granite State motto — ‘Live Free or Die’ — is not about ignoring risk. It is about trusting adults, enforcing laws against bad actors, and creating a stable regulatory environment where businesses can operate responsibly. If we get SB 482 right, New Hampshire can demonstrate that consumer protection and small business growth are not opposing goals. If we get it wrong, we risk discouraging innovation, fragmenting our regulatory system, and undermining the very entrepreneurs who drive our local economy,” Labrie said according to his op-ed in the Union Leader.
At a Senate Commerce hearing on SB 482, CoinFlip testified in support of the bill and said operators already use tools such as identity checks, two-day holds for first-time users, fee and pricing disclosures, receipts with contact information, 24/7 customer support, and commercially available blockchain analytics that can flag risky wallets. That testimony supports Labrie’s point that the answer is stronger guardrails and education rather than treating crypto kiosks as inherently suspect according to hearing records.
Labrie warned that New Hampshire could face “234 different regulatory approaches,” referencing the state’s 234 incorporated cities and towns. A system where each locality sets separate rules would make compliance harder for small businesses and host retailers while undermining the bill’s goal of uniform statewide consumer protections. His preemption argument centers on consistency, predictability, and anti-fraud enforcement that works everywhere according to his op-ed.
Fraud remains widespread across mainstream finance. The Federal Trade Commission says Americans lost $12.5 billion in 2024 even though the total number of reports stayed about the same. The biggest losses happened when victims sent money through bank transfers or other account-to-account payments totaling about $2 billion. Investment scams caused losses of $5.7 billion overall while impostor scams were most commonly reported; these data show scams aren’t limited to cryptocurrency but often happen through everyday payment methods according to FTC data.
Labrie currently represents Bedford in the New Hampshire House as Assistant Majority Leader and brings a small-business background to this issue; he owns B.H. Labrie Landscape Co. and Drop One Portables with his wife employing more than 30 people according to his House biography.
