US Lawmakers Introduce Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill to Acquire 1 Million BTC

US lawmakers are once again moving to formalize a national Bitcoin strategy with the introduction of the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 (ARMA), a bipartisan bill that proposes the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under the US Treasury Department.

The legislation, introduced by Representative Nick Begich and backed by 16 members of Congress, would allow the United States to accumulate up to 1 million Bitcoin over a five-year period through budget-neutral methods, avoiding direct taxpayer funding.

Source: Nick Begich

Alongside Bitcoin, the proposal also includes the formation of a Digital Asset Stockpile for other federally held cryptocurrencies.

The renewed push reflects growing momentum in Washington around Bitcoin’s role as a strategic reserve asset as governments increasingly view digital assets through the lens of long-term economic security and geopolitical competitiveness.

A Long-Term Bitcoin Strategy

One of the most notable parts of ARMA is its strict long-term holding framework.

Under the bill, Bitcoin held in the reserve must remain untouched for at least 20 years unless assets are sold specifically to reduce the US national debt, which recently surpassed $39 trillion.

The proposal builds on the earlier BITCOIN Act, first introduced in 2024 and later updated in 2025. According to Patrick Witt from the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, ARMA represents a more refined and legally structured version of previous reserve proposals.

Speaking in a recent interview, Witt described the legislation as a major step toward ensuring the reserve is both legally sound and securely managed.

Why This Matters

The United States already holds over 328,000 Bitcoin worth more than $25 billion, primarily acquired through seizures and enforcement actions. However, there has never been a formal federal framework determining how those assets should be managed long term.

Supporters of the bill argue that Bitcoin is evolving from a speculative asset into a strategic financial instrument with potential implications for national reserves, monetary positioning, and global competitiveness.

Representative Jared Golden noted that while the US is already one of the world’s largest Bitcoin holders, Congress has yet to establish a clear national policy around those holdings.

Other lawmakers backing the bill believe the move could strengthen America’s economic position as digital assets continue integrating into the global financial system.

Transparency and Self-Custody Protections

The legislation also includes transparency requirements aimed at increasing public accountability.

If passed, the Treasury Department would be required to publish quarterly proof-of-reserve reports alongside independent third-party audits of the Bitcoin reserve.

In addition, ARMA seeks to reinforce digital property rights by affirming that the federal government cannot interfere with an individual’s right to own or self-custody digital assets.

That provision is likely to resonate strongly with the crypto industry, where self-custody remains a core principle tied to financial sovereignty and decentralization.

A Growing Shift in Government Attitudes

The introduction of ARMA highlights how dramatically the conversation around Bitcoin has evolved in Washington.

Just a few years ago, discussions around crypto regulation focused largely on enforcement and risk management. Today, lawmakers are openly debating whether Bitcoin should play a role in America’s long-term strategic reserves.

As institutional adoption accelerates and digital assets become increasingly intertwined with macroeconomics, the idea of nation-states holding Bitcoin as a reserve asset no longer feels fringe.

It is quickly becoming part of a much larger global financial conversation.