American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026
HB8957, the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, would create a federal Strategic Bitcoin Reserve inside the Department of the Treasury and a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for non-Bitcoin digital assets. The bill directs Treasury to secure, inventory, audit, and manage these holdings, including any Bitcoin or other digital assets obtained through forfeiture, penalties, or other federal control. It also requires the government to account for digital assets received through forks or airdrops and sets rules for how those assets may be retained, sold, or converted.
The bill places strong limits on disposition of Bitcoin held in the reserve. Bitcoin deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve must generally be held for at least 20 years, during which it cannot be sold, swapped, auctioned, or encumbered, except in limited circumstances. After that period, Treasury may recommend gradual sales of up to 10 percent over a two-year period, subject to considerations such as market impact, national debt, diversification, and financial resilience. The bill also requires Treasury to study conditions for earlier sales and to report to Congress on possible exceptions for national security and financial stability.
The bill would add a new federal framework for custody and management of government-held Bitcoin and other digital assets, while also amending the Exchange Stabilization Fund reporting requirements to include Bitcoin-specific disclosures. It would require federal agencies to inventory their digital asset holdings, transfer them to Treasury once the new reserve is operational, and follow new custody, security, transparency, and audit rules. It also authorizes a voluntary state participation program for segregated Bitcoin custody and directs Treasury and Commerce to study budget-neutral ways the federal government could acquire additional Bitcoin without new borrowing, taxes, or deficit spending.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed positively by its sponsors as a modernization and financial innovation proposal. The findings section emphasizes Bitcoin’s resilience, scarcity, and potential strategic value, suggesting the bill is intended to promote long-term reserve diversification and transparency. Because there are no transcripts or roll-call votes included, no formal legislative sentiment can be measured from committee action, but the bill’s structure indicates strong support among its sponsors for federal Bitcoin adoption and custody planning.
The main points of contention likely concern whether the federal government should hold Bitcoin at all, how much discretion Treasury should have to manage or sell it, and whether the reserve could expose taxpayers or markets to volatility. The bill tries to address these concerns by imposing a long holding period, requiring public proof-of-reserve reporting, and prohibiting borrowing, new taxes, or deficit spending for acquisitions. Another likely area of debate is the treatment of forks and airdrops, the role of Federal Reserve resources in any acquisition strategy, and the legal and operational risks of allowing states to place Bitcoin in segregated federal custody while retaining title and assuming custody risk.