Congressman Nick Begich (AK-AL) and co-lead Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) have introduced the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 (ARMA), bipartisan legislation to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve within the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The bill attracted 17 original co-sponsors at introduction, spanning representatives from Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, Utah, Iowa, Ohio, New York, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, Colorado, Tennessee, and beyond.
What the bill does
ARMA would consolidate custody of all federally held digital assets — acquired through forfeitures, penalties, and other lawful proceedings — under the Treasury.
A separate Digital Asset Stockpile would hold non-bitcoin digital assets.
Bitcoin placed in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve would be required to stay there for a minimum of 20 years.
The bill mandates quarterly public “Proof of Reserve” reports, independent third-party audits, and congressional oversight.
It also directs a study on budget-neutral acquisition strategies to expand reserves without raising taxes or adding to the national debt.
Lawmakers make the case
Golden framed the legislation as a matter of congressional authority, noting that the U.S. government already holds significant bitcoin with no statutory framework guiding what happens to it.
He stated:
“Administrations have auctioned it off or held it in reserve, according to the whims of the executive branch. By creating a strategic reserve with the weight of law, the ARMA reinforces stability and gives Congress more time to establish long-term policy for how the federal government approaches cryptocurrency.”
Congressman Pat Harrigan drew a direct comparison to gold, saying:
“Bitcoin is the digital equivalent of gold, and just as gold reserves have anchored American financial security for generations, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve positions the United States at the forefront of 21st century finance.”
Property rights and national competition
Beyond reserve management, the bill affirms that the federal government may not impair the lawful right of individuals to own, transfer, or self-custody digital assets.
Several co-sponsors pointed to competition with China and other foreign adversaries as a driving motivation, arguing the U.S. risks ceding financial leadership if it fails to adopt a coherent digital asset strategy.
Congressman Begich stated:
“Private property rights are fundamental to the American Ideal, and those rights must extend fully into the digital space. As the global economy evolves, the United States must embrace policies that protect individual liberty, encourage new innovation systems, and diversify America’s core reserves balance sheet.”
