A new congressional push would lock up U.S. government Bitcoin for two decades and put federal crypto holdings under fresh transparency rules.
What’s proposed
- Rep. Nick Begich (co-lead Rep. Jared Golden) introduced the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 (ARMA), which would create a Treasury-run Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for non‑Bitcoin assets seized or otherwise held by the federal government.
- Bitcoin placed in the reserve would be subject to a mandatory 20‑year holding period.
- The bill requires quarterly proof‑of‑reserve reports, third‑party audits, congressional oversight, and a full public accounting of federal digital asset holdings.
- It also protects Americans’ rights to own, transfer, and self‑custody digital assets and directs a study of budget‑neutral acquisition methods designed to avoid higher taxes, deficit spending, or new national debt.
Why it matters
ARMA formalizes and expands on a March 2025 executive order that tasked Treasury officials with managing government Bitcoin obtained through forfeiture and other lawful channels and set up a stockpile for seized digital assets. Supporters say the bill would safeguard taxpayer interests, advance financial sovereignty, and extend private‑property protections into the digital realm. Begich framed the measure as preventing the government from selling strategic digital assets without a long‑term plan; Golden noted the U.S. already holds Bitcoin but lacks a clear federal policy for managing it, adding that “digital currencies are not the fringe phenomenon they once were.”
Context and targets
White House advisors have recently revisited the idea of a formal reserve: Patrick Witt of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets has said officials are ironing out the legal framework to manage government‑held Bitcoin. Fox Business reported Begich envisions the U.S. holding roughly 1 million BTC—about 5% of Bitcoin’s fixed supply—and ARMA echoes earlier BITCOIN Act language that contemplated acquisitions of up to 200,000 BTC per year over five years.
Next steps and implications
ARMA is a bill, not law. Its fate depends on committee action, House passage, and any alignment with the Senate and broader crypto legislation. If enacted, the 20‑year lock and heightened transparency could tighten available Bitcoin supply and reframe Washington’s role in crypto policy—raising fresh debates around custody, fiscal policy, and digital property rights.
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