Representatives Nick Begich (R-Alaska) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) introduced the 'American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026' (ARMA) on Thursday, creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and separate Digital Asset Stockpile for non-bitcoin assets. According to reports from The Block, the legislation builds on President Donald Trump's 2025 executive order to establish a national bitcoin stockpile, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reaffirming the policy in January. The bill would require all bitcoin deposited into the reserve to remain there for a minimum of 20 years, barring government disposal through selling, swapping, auctioning, or encumbering.
Unlike earlier BITCOIN Act proposals that targeted up to 1 million bitcoin over five years, ARMA provides no exact acquisition target and instead directs Treasury and Commerce to study whether additional purchases could be carried out through budget-neutral mechanisms. As reported by The Block, the bill lists potential acquisition methods including converting non-bitcoin assets, gold certificate revaluations, forfeiture proceedings, tariff revenues, and partnerships with states. After the 20-year lockup period expires, the Treasury secretary could recommend selling up to 10% of the reserve's assets in any two-year period.
According to unofficial data from Arkham Intelligence, the current value of all U.S. government crypto holdings stands at approximately $26 billion, largely comprised of bitcoin, ether, and USDT. According to The Block, the legislation would require federal agencies to provide a full accounting of digital assets under their control within 60 days of enactment. ARMA would establish quarterly public proof-of-reserve reports, independent audits, and congressional oversight to maintain transparency and accountability.
Representative Mike Rulli (R-Ohio) emphasized the long-term strategic approach, stating that 'America should not be selling off strategic digital assets. We should be securing them for the future.' As reported by The Block, the bill takes a responsible holding approach by requiring the United States to hold bitcoin as part of a modern reserve strategy. The legislation would be funded primarily through bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies already held by the federal government through criminal and civil forfeitures, with the policy of adding seized bitcoin to the digital asset reserve after damages are completed.
