Begich Bill Would Codify 20-Year U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) introduced the American Reserve Modernization Act in the House on Thursday with 16 original cosponsors. The bill would place a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into federal law, require federally held bitcoin to be held at least 20 years and authorize the Treasury to acquire up to 200,000 bitcoin per year for five years.

Under the bill, the Treasury could pursue purchases aimed at assembling a one-million-coin reserve. All acquisitions would be required to be budget-neutral, meaning purchases cannot result in new taxpayer spending. That approach follows earlier proposals tied to Senator Cynthia Lummis that would fund asset purchases through sales or reallocations rather than new appropriations.

ARMA builds on the earlier BITCOIN Act framework and seeks to put President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order on a statutory footing. Supporters say a statute would preserve the reserve policy beyond any single administration.

The 20-year holding requirement would apply to all federally controlled bitcoin, including an estimated 198,000 to 328,000 BTC the government obtained through criminal forfeitures in cases such as Silk Road and the Bitfinex hack. The bill also sets federal custody standards for holdings to address secure storage and professional management of large digital-asset reserves.

The Bitcoin Policy Institute endorsed the measure, writing that ARMA “would put the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve on permanent legal footing: requiring 20 year long-term Bitcoin holdings, budget-neutral acquisition strategies, and federal custody standards.” Begich, in a post accompanying the filing, wrote: “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.”

Committee hearings are expected in the coming weeks and will determine how quickly the bill can move through the House and whether it will attract bipartisan support. Lawmakers will negotiate funding mechanisms and custody protocols as the proposal advances.