US lawmakers advanced legislation on Wednesday to transform President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding a strategic Bitcoin reserve into federal law. The American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 (H.R. 8957) passed the House Committee on Financial Services with a 28-21 vote. Introduced by Representative Nicholas Begich in May, the bill establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a separate Digital Asset Stockpile within the Department of the Treasury for assets acquired through criminal or civil forfeiture.
The proposed law mandates that federally held Bitcoin be retained for a minimum of 20 years and requires all federal agencies to provide a full accounting of digital assets under their control. It introduces transparency measures such as quarterly proof-of-reserve reports and third-party audits. According to Arkham Intelligence, the US government currently holds an estimated 324,527 Bitcoin, valued at $24.7 billion. The bill also affirms private ownership and self-custody rights, describing control of private keys as fundamental to financial sovereignty.
This legislative step signifies a shift from executive discretion to statutory permanence for the US government's crypto holdings. By requiring a 20-year hold period and mandating rigorous accounting standards, the bill addresses prior concerns about fragmented custody and cybersecurity risks highlighted by Representative Begich. It institutionalizes Bitcoin as a long-term sovereign asset rather than a speculative holding, potentially stabilizing market expectations regarding future supply releases from the federal treasury.
While committee approval clears a significant hurdle, the path to enactment remains uncertain as the bill must pass both the full House and Senate. The inclusion of provisions allowing states to store Bitcoin in the Federal Reserve suggests an attempt to broaden adoption beyond the federal level. Observers will watch for further regulatory clarity on how these transparency mechanisms interact with existing compliance frameworks and whether the affirmation of self-custody rights influences broader digital asset policy debates.
