U.S. Representatives Nick Begich and Jared Golden introduced the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 on May 21, renewing a bipartisan push to place a strategic Bitcoin reserve on permanent statutory footing under the Treasury Department.
What the ARMA bill proposes for a US strategic Bitcoin reserve
The ARMA bill would create two distinct structures inside the U.S. Department of the Treasury: a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve dedicated exclusively to BTC and a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for all other federally held digital assets, according to the official release from Begich’s office.
Bitcoin held in the reserve would be subject to a minimum 20-year holding period. The bill also mandates quarterly public proof-of-reserve reports, independent third-party audits, and formal congressional oversight of the reserve’s operations.
A government-wide accounting of all federally held digital assets is also part of the proposal. That provision, combined with explicit language around digital property rights and self-custody protections, positions ARMA as a custody-and-transparency framework rather than a simple accumulation mandate.
According to secondary reporting, the bill would authorize the Treasury to acquire up to 200,000 BTC per year for five years, though this detail has not been confirmed in the official legislative text available so far.
Why US lawmakers are reviving the Bitcoin reserve debate now
ARMA is not the first attempt to codify a federal Bitcoin reserve. Begich previously introduced H.R. 2032, the BITCOIN Act of 2025, on March 11, 2025, as recorded in congressional filings. The new bill builds on that earlier effort while broadening its scope to include governance mechanisms absent from the original proposal.
The legislative push also follows President Trump’s executive order signed on March 6, 2025, which established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve capitalized with forfeited government BTC and authorized budget-neutral strategies to acquire additional bitcoin. ARMA aims to convert that executive action into statute, making it harder for a future administration to reverse.
Fox Business reported on May 21 that the bill was framed as a bipartisan effort, with Golden, a Democrat, joining Begich as co-lead. That cross-party structure may be intended to signal broader viability as the bill moves toward committee review.
The renewed push arrives at a time when institutional and sovereign interest in Bitcoin continues to evolve. Recent on-chain activity, including large BTC transfers from firms like Galaxy Digital, underscores the broader trend of significant players repositioning around the asset.
What the ARMA bill could mean for Bitcoin and US crypto policy
If ARMA advances through committee and reaches a floor vote, it would represent the most concrete legislative step toward treating Bitcoin as a formal reserve asset in U.S. law. The bill’s emphasis on audits, proof-of-reserve transparency, and a two-decade holding period frames Bitcoin not as a speculative trade but as a long-term strategic holding.
Bitcoin was trading at $77,668 as the ARMA announcement hit, with the Fear & Greed Index sitting at 28, firmly in “Fear” territory. The subdued market sentiment suggests the bill’s significance is being weighed more on policy grounds than as an immediate price catalyst.
The broader regulatory environment is also shifting. Lawmakers are simultaneously examining how tokenized asset platforms and new exchange products fit within existing frameworks. ARMA’s passage, or even its serious consideration in committee, could set a precedent for how Congress handles digital asset policy going forward.
The bill still faces a long path. It must clear the relevant House committees, survive potential amendments, and find a Senate companion before it could reach the president’s desk. Readers tracking U.S. crypto policy should watch for a committee hearing date and any co-sponsor additions as early signals of legislative momentum.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.