U.S. lawmakers have introduced a new bill called the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, or ARMA, which aims to create a government-managed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under the U.S. Treasury.
The proposal was introduced by Nick Begich alongside co-lead lawmaker Jared Golden.
Under the bill, the Treasury would manage a dedicated reserve for Bitcoin as well as a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for other cryptocurrencies owned by the federal government. These assets would mainly come from seizures, forfeitures, and other legal government actions.
One of the biggest parts of the proposal is a rule requiring the government to hold reserve Bitcoin for at least 20 years unless the assets are sold specifically to reduce national debt.
The bill also includes:
- Quarterly proof-of-reserve reports
- Independent third-party audits
- Congressional oversight
- A full review of all digital assets held by the federal government
- Research into budget-neutral ways for the government to acquire Bitcoin without raising taxes or increasing debt
Begich said the bill is designed to protect taxpayers, strengthen financial sovereignty, and support Americans’ rights to own and self-custody digital assets.
Golden said the federal government already owns Bitcoin but lacks a clear long-term policy for managing those holdings. He argued that digital assets are no longer a niche issue and that Congress needs to establish proper rules.
The proposal builds on a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve framework created by executive order in March 2025 under the administration of Donald Trump. That order directed the Treasury to manage Bitcoin and other digital assets obtained through legal proceedings.
According to reports, Begich also supports the idea of the United States eventually holding around 1 million Bitcoin, equal to roughly 5% of Bitcoin’s total supply.
For now, ARMA is still only a proposed bill. It must pass through congressional committees and gain support in both the House and Senate before becoming law.
