New House Bill Would Create a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Rep. Nick Begich on Thursday introduced the American Reserve Modernization Act, legislation that would establish a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve and reshape how federal agencies custody digital assets on the government's balance sheet. Under the proposal, the Treasury Department would house a "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" to hold federally controlled Bitcoin, with any BTC placed into the reserve required to be kept for at least 20 years. The bill also creates a separate "Digital Asset Stockpile" for non-Bitcoin digital assets managed by the federal government. The measure would consolidate custody and management of digital assets held across federal agencies under Treasury oversight, aiming to strengthen security, increase transparency, and standardize supervision of taxpayer-owned crypto obtained through forfeitures, penalties, and other lawful proceedings. It also includes explicit provisions intended to safeguard digital property rights. The bill directs a study on budget-neutral acquisition strategies, seeking ways to expand strategic reserves without raising taxes, increasing deficit spending, or adding to the national debt. Begich has positioned the legislation as a modernization effort and a public-safeguard initiative designed to help the U.S. lead in the digital economy while protecting taxpayers. Republican Rep. Burgess Owens said the U.S. can no longer treat Bitcoin as a passing fad, arguing Americans are already using digital assets, global markets are adapting, and geopolitical competitors are moving. The proposal follows an executive action in March 2025, when President Donald Trump signed an order directing the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve, an effort that has not been fully implemented. In Congress, broader crypto legislation has also advanced: the Senate Banking Committee has passed the CLARITY Act with bipartisan support and sent it to the full Senate. Bitcoin was trading around $77,738 at the time of reporting, down about 5% over the past week and roughly 38% below last year's peak near $126,000. The American Reserve Modernization Act underscores a push to formalize federal crypto holdings as part of national financial strategy, pairing long-term custody requirements with measures aimed at protecting taxpayers and clarifying federal stewardship of digital assets.