A new bill, American Reserve Modernization Act 2026 (ARMA), has been introduced in the US House of Representatives, which proposes the creation of a strategic reserve of bitcoins amounting to up to 1 million BTC over five years. The initiative is the result of the collaborative efforts of House member Nick Begich and 16 other congressmen, who emphasize the need to enshrine digital assets in the financial strategy of the state.
This is reported by Finway
Creation of a Digital Reserve and Storage Conditions
According to ARMA, the strategic reserve of bitcoins, as well as a separate stock of other digital assets owned by the federal government, will be under the control of the US Department of the Treasury. It is anticipated that bitcoin purchases will be made using budget-neutral strategies, meaning without involving taxpayer funds. Over the next five years, the US government intends to accumulate up to 1 million BTC.
The bill mandates that these assets be held for at least 20 years. An exception is allowed only in the case of selling bitcoins to reduce the national debt, which has already exceeded $39 trillion. The text of the initiative emphasizes that this decision will provide the country with additional financial stability amid the volatility of the global economy.
“America’s reserves balance sheet is a critical component of our nation’s insurance policy, bolstering our currency and providing assurance during times of uncertainty. Over time, the prevailing sentiment as to what constitutes a durable store of value can shift, and as such it is…”
Differences from Previous Initiatives and Additional Requirements
Lawmakers note that ARMA is an updated version of the previously proposed Bitcoin Act. In particular, Patrick Witt, a representative of the Presidential Council of Advisors on Digital Assets, referred to ARMA as “version 2” of the previous initiative, emphasizing that the US administration has made significant efforts to analyze the legal aspects of creating a state bitcoin reserve.
Currently, the federal government of the US owns about 328,372 BTC worth over $25.4 billion, making the country one of the largest holders of bitcoin in the world. However, as Congressman Jared Golden points out, there is still no official government policy regarding the management of these digital assets.
The ARMA initiative also requires regular publication of quarterly reports on the status of the reserve and the conduct of independent audits by third-party companies. Additionally, the bill enshrines the right of US citizens to independently store digital assets, limiting government interference in this right.