The US Congress has formally reintroduced efforts to establish a national Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through a new bill known as the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 (ARMA). The bipartisan legislation, led by Representatives Nick Begich and Jared Golden, aims to codify and expand President Donald Trump’s earlier executive order on government-held Bitcoin reserves.
The ARMA bill would formally establish a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under the Treasury Department and create a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for other federally held cryptocurrencies. The US Congress members backing the proposal argue that Bitcoin should be treated as a strategic reserve asset comparable to gold, especially as digital assets become integrated into the global financial system.
Investor Takeaway
If passed, the ARMA bill could deepen confidence in Bitcoin’s role within the global financial system and accelerate nation-state adoption narratives.
US Congress ARMA Revives and Expands the Original BITCOIN Act
The latest legislation from the US Congress builds on the earlier BITCOIN Act introduced in 2025 but rebrands the proposal under the broader “ARMA” framework in an effort to attract wider political support. According to Representative Jared Golden:
“Digital currencies are not the fringe phenomenon they once were. Individuals, businesses and governments already hold and trade them…But Congress has never set a federal policy on what to do with that asset.”
The bill from the US Congress is now designed to modernize how the US manages reserve assets in the digital era. The proposal reportedly includes plans to establish a Treasury-backed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, maintain a separate federal Digital Asset Stockpile, explore acquiring up to 1 million Bitcoin over five years, and impose long-term holding requirements for reserve assets.
US Congressman Nick Begich drives Bitcoin Reserve Bill. Source: X (formerly Twitter)One of the most notable additions is a reported 20-year holding structure that would sharply limit the government’s ability to sell reserve Bitcoin except under specific conditions, like debt reduction. Supporters argue this would reinforce Bitcoin’s role as a long-term sovereign reserve asset rather than a speculative holding.
The renewed push by the US Congress reflects a broader change in how governments and policymakers are beginning to view Bitcoin from a previously speculative digital asset to a strategic asset similar to commodities, gold reserves, and sovereign wealth assets.
Investor Takeaway
The renewed BITCOIN Act framework suggests policymakers are preparing for a future where digital assets play a larger role in sovereign finance.
Could Trump’s Executive Order Increase Bitcoin Price?
ARMA follows President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile. That order directed federal agencies to consolidate and account for digital assets already held through forfeitures and seizures while exploring “budget-neutral” methods for expanding Bitcoin holdings.
The federal government is already believed to control one of the world’s largest Bitcoin holdings through confiscated assets tied to criminal and enforcement cases. Estimates referenced in public reporting suggest US government-controlled wallets may hold more than 300,000 BTC.
However, as of the time of writing, the news did not impact the Bitcoin price, which had been trading around $76,000 over the last 24 hours. If the US Congress ultimately passes the bill, ARMA would move beyond executive action by embedding the reserve framework into federal law, which could impact Bitcoin prices.