What does Preamble of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled 'To establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and other programs to ensure the transparent management of Bitcoin holdings of the Federal Government, to offset costs utilizing certain resources of the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes.'

What does SHORT TITLE. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026.

What does FINDINGS. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section outlines findings regarding the evolving global financial landscape and the increasing role of digital assets. Bitcoin is recognized for its resilience, widespread adoption, and function as a medium of exchange and store of value. The text suggests Bitcoin could potentially enhance U.S. financial leadership and security, similar to how gold reserves have historically served. Bitcoin's decentralized and finitely scarce nature is presented as offering unique properties that could complement existing national reserves. Diversifying U.S. national assets to include Bitcoin is proposed as a way to enhance financial resilience and promote global financial innovation.

What does DEFINITIONS. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section defines key terms used within the Act. “Airdrop” is defined as a distribution of digital assets to Bitcoin holders in a broad, equitable, and non-discretionary manner. “Digital asset” refers to any digital representation of value recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger. “Fork” means a change to a distributed ledger’s consensus mechanism that creates a new digital asset with a shared transaction history with Bitcoin. “Qualifying Bitcoin” is Bitcoin forfeited in criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings, not needed to satisfy requirements under section 9705 of title 31, United States Code. “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the Treasury.

What does ESTABLISHMENT OF STRATEGIC BITCOIN RESERVE AND DIGITAL ASSET of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve within the Department of the Treasury for the safekeeping of Bitcoin. It also establishes a Digital Asset Stockpile within the Department of the Treasury for the custody, management, and disposition of other non-Bitcoin digital assets. The Secretary is responsible for monitoring and auditing the holdings of both reserves. The Secretary must implement security measures to protect the digital assets, consulting with the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security and industry experts. All Bitcoin acquired by the Federal Government will be deposited in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, and other digital assets will go into the Digital Asset Stockpile. The Secretary has discretion to manage the Digital Asset Stockpile, including selling assets, with proceeds used to increase the Bitcoin Reserve or reduce the national debt. Forks and airdrops to blockchain addresses under government control must be accounted for and stored in the appropriate reserve. Digital assets resulting from forks or airdrops cannot be sold for five years unless explicitly authorized by law. After five years, the Secretary will assess forked assets and retain the one with the highest market capitalization, disposing of others. The Secretary is authorized to issue regulations and rules to implement the Act, including those governing custody protocols and public reporting. If the Secretary determines it's in the U.S.'s interest to sell Bitcoin, they must establish a process and prioritize transparency and minimizing market disruption, with required public disclosures.

What does RESERVE ASSET HOLDING REQUIREMENTS. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes reserve asset holding requirements for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The Secretary is required to hold all Bitcoin acquired by the United States and deposited in the Reserve for a minimum of 20 years from the date of enactment of this Act, or 20 years from the date of deposit, whichever is later. During the minimum holding period, Bitcoin held in the Reserve cannot be sold, swapped, auctioned, encumbered, or otherwise disposed of. Two years before the end of the minimum holding period, the Secretary must submit recommendations to Congress regarding whether to continue holding or gradually release a portion of the Reserve's holdings. After the holding period expires, the Secretary may recommend selling up to 10 percent of the Reserve's assets during any 2-year period. The Secretary's recommendations should consider the potential impact on the national deficit, Bitcoin's viability as a strategic investment, effects on digital asset markets, diversification of U.S. assets, and the financial position of the United States. Within one year of enactment, the Secretary must submit a study to Congress outlining conditions for selling Bitcoin before the minimum holding period and potential exceptions for national security or financial stability.

What does PROOF OF RESERVE SYSTEM. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a Proof of Reserve system for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The Secretary is required to publish quarterly reports detailing the reserve's holdings, transactions, and private key control, including a public cryptographic attestation. These quarterly reports must be made publicly available on a Department of Treasury website. An independent, third-party auditor with cryptographic expertise must verify the accuracy and integrity of the reports. The Comptroller General of the United States will conduct regular oversight of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the quarterly reports, and the audits.

What does CONSOLIDATION OF GOVERNMENT BITCOIN AND DIGITAL ASSET HOLDINGS. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section mandates a comprehensive accounting of Bitcoin and other digital assets held by each Federal agency within 60 days of the Act's enactment. Federal agencies are required to retain custody of their Bitcoin holdings using existing security protocols until the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile are operational. A prohibition is placed on the sale or disposal of Bitcoin controlled by Federal agencies, with exceptions for national security or court orders. Once the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile are certified as operational, all Bitcoin and digital assets held by Federal agencies must be transferred to the stockpile within 30 days. Transfers to the stockpile must adhere to secure custody procedures established by the Secretary to ensure integrity and auditability.

What does VOLUNTARY STATE PARTICIPATION AND SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a program allowing states to voluntarily participate in storing their Bitcoin holdings within the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in segregated accounts. States choosing to participate must sign a contractual agreement outlining responsibilities for managing and securing Bitcoin holdings. The agreement requires states to develop and implement security protocols and access controls. The state retains title and all legal interests in the Bitcoin, including any digital assets resulting from forks or airdrops. Participating states have the right to withdraw or transfer the contents of their segregated accounts, subject to contractual terms and federal regulations. Agreements must include an acknowledgment that digital asset custody carries inherent risks, and the state assumes those risks.

What does STUDY ON BUDGET NEUTRAL STRATEGIES FOR BITCOIN ACQUISITION. of American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 do?

This section directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce to jointly study the risks, costs, and potential benefits of acquiring additional Bitcoin over the next 5 years for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The study must be completed within 180 days of the Act's enactment and aims to determine if Bitcoin acquisition can be performed in a budget-neutral manner. The study will evaluate lawful, budget-neutral mechanisms for acquiring Bitcoin, including converting digital assets, utilizing Federal Reserve surplus remittances, and receiving Bitcoin through forfeitures or payments. The study will identify and evaluate the full costs of Bitcoin acquisitions, both nominally and economically. The Secretaries must submit an initial study and annual updates to specified Congressional committees, detailing projected costs and benefits to taxpayers and the national debt. The section explicitly prohibits borrowing, new taxation, or deficit spending for Bitcoin acquisition.

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American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026

Last updated: 5/21/2026 · Introduced: 5/21/2026

Author: Nicholas Begich (R-AK)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile within the Department of the Treasury to hold and manage Bitcoin and other digital assets acquired by the federal government.
All Bitcoin acquired by the U.S. government will be deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, with a mandatory 20-year holding period before any sales can be considered.
Federal agencies must transfer all Bitcoin and digital assets they currently hold to the newly established stockpile within 30 days of the Act's operational certification.
States can voluntarily participate in the program by storing their Bitcoin holdings in segregated accounts within the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, retaining ownership and control.
The bill mandates quarterly public reporting on the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve's holdings and transactions, verified by an independent auditor, to ensure transparency and accountability.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 10 more.

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