US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Advances to House Committee Vote

The American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, also known as H.R. 8957, has cleared the House Financial Services Committee and is heading to a full markup vote on September 16, 2026. The bill aims to establish a formal US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, placing the Treasury Department in charge of managing federal Bitcoin holdings.

Introduced by Rep. Nick Begich and co-led by Rep. Jared Golden, the legislation has secured over 20 bipartisan cosponsors. If passed, the bill would codify a policy that has been in place informally since a 2025 executive order from President Trump, which directed agencies to retain forfeited Bitcoin instead of auctioning it.

The proposed reserve would hold Bitcoin acquired through federal forfeitures. Currently, US agencies hold an estimated 328,372 BTC, with a value between $25 billion and $30 billion. Under the terms of the act, these holdings would be subject to a mandatory 20-year holding period, prohibiting any sales or swaps. The bill also establishes a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for non-Bitcoin assets and includes a provision that explicitly protects privately held Bitcoin from government seizure.

The legislation introduces new transparency requirements, mandating that the Treasury publish quarterly Proof-of-Reserve reports that include cryptographic attestations and independent audits. Additionally, the act would extend wash-sale rules to crypto, effectively treating digital assets like traditional securities for tax purposes and preventing traders from harvesting tax losses by selling and immediately repurchasing assets.

The 20-year holding mandate would remove approximately 1.5% of the 21 million total Bitcoin supply from the market. By moving from an executive order to a statutory framework, the bill signals that the federal government views Bitcoin as a long-term store of value, a shift that could influence pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and corporate treasuries.

The bill still faces a long legislative path. Even if it passes the full House, it may face challenges in the Senate. Furthermore, the inclusion of wash-sale rules could draw opposition from crypto industry lobbyists who have previously operated under the existing tax treatment.