A new bill in the House aims to turn the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve from an executive order into permanent federal law. Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced the American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA) on Thursday, with 16 original cosponsors. The legislation would lock all federally controlled bitcoin — including roughly 198,000 to 328,000 BTC already seized from criminal forfeitures — for at least 20 years.
What the bill does
ARMA directs the Treasury to acquire up to 200,000 bitcoin per year for five years, targeting a one-million-coin reserve. The acquisitions must be budget-neutral — no new taxpayer spending. That provision echoes earlier proposals to fund purchases through gold sales, though the bill itself doesn't specify the funding mechanism. The 20-year holding period applies to both newly acquired coins and the existing forfeiture stash.
Building on earlier efforts
The legislation builds on the earlier BITCOIN Act and President Trump's March 2025 executive order that first established the reserve. ARMA would codify that order into statute, making it harder for a future administration to unwind. The Bitcoin Policy Institute has endorsed the package.
The existing stash
The government already holds a significant amount of bitcoin from criminal seizures, estimated between 198,000 and 328,000 BTC. Under ARMA, those coins would be subject to the same 20-year lockup as newly acquired bitcoin. That's a notable shift — previously, the government has auctioned off seized crypto periodically.
The bill has been referred to the House Financial Services Committee. With 16 cosponsors and bipartisan interest in strategic crypto reserves, it could see markup in the coming weeks. Whether it picks up enough votes to pass the full House remains an open question.
