In the United States, bipartisan lawmakers have introduced a landmark bill to officially tie the country’s Bitcoin reserves to a formal strategic policy. Announced Thursday, the proposal lays out a five-year roadmap under which the US would acquire nearly 1 million BTC.
ARMA targets and fiscal perspective
Named the American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA) of 2026, the bill envisions creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve managed by the US Treasury, along with a federally governed stockpile of other digital assets. Congressman Nick Begich, the main sponsor, stated that the initiative would provide a more centralized and long-term approach to managing crypto assets at the national level.
Patrick Witt, advisor at the Digital Assets Council, described ARMA as an enhanced successor to the previously discussed BITCOIN Act. The White House is reported to be reviewing the legal framework for such a reserve. While the US already owns more Bitcoin than any other government—holding 328,372 BTC—some assets have been sold in past years due to court decisions.
Congressman Jared Golden pointed out that, “The US is already one of the world’s largest Bitcoin holders. However, there has never been a clear federal policy outlining what should be done with that asset.”
Jared Golden emphasized in his discussion of the bill that “Ensuring the long-term protection and strategic management of American Bitcoin reserves in the national interest is one of the proposal’s most critical aspects.”
A core feature of ARMA is that Bitcoin reserves must be held for at least 20 years, with sales permitted only if used to reduce the national debt. The US currently faces a national debt surpassing $39 trillion, making the economic significance of a Bitcoin reserve even more pronounced.
Designed to be budget-neutral, the bill stipulates that taxpayer funds will not be used for Bitcoin purchases. The acquisition of 1 million BTC over five years will be executed according to specific market strategies regarding timing and volume.
Representative Mike Carey highlighted the growing importance of digital assets, arguing that this legislation would strengthen the US economy in the long term and help maintain the nation’s edge in global competition.
Meanwhile, Matt Cole, CEO of Strive, a company specializing in crypto-based investments and asset management, described ARMA as possibly the most consequential crypto legislation to emerge from Washington so far.
Glossary: ARMA (American Reserve Modernization Act) is a proposed law creating a centralized US digital asset reserve and establishing long-term federal asset management under legal guidelines. STRIVE is a US-based financial firm providing crypto asset management and investment products.
Transparency and personal custody rights strengthened
The bill also makes significant strides in transparency. Lead author Nick Begich announced that quarterly proof-of-reserves reports and independent third-party audits of the Bitcoin holdings will be released publicly.
Federal legal protections would also enshrine every individual’s right to personally hold their own Bitcoin and other digital assets. This means the government cannot restrict private ownership or self-custody rights of digital assets by citizens.
With the introduction of the ARMA proposal, lawmakers aim to clarify the legal landscape for digital assets and secure the rights of Americans within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
