American Reserve Modernization Act

Full Title:
American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill would create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve at the Department of the Treasury to hold qualifying Bitcoin and a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for other government-held digital assets. It defines key terms and requires Treasury to secure, audit, and publicly report on these holdings. The bill requires physical and cybersecurity protections, third-party cryptographic attestations (a "Proof of Reserve"), and Comptroller General oversight. It sets rules for handling forks and airdrops (a 5-year hold, then assessment and possible sale of non-dominant forked assets), requires a 20-year minimum holding period for Bitcoin in the Reserve, and limits sales during that time. Federal agencies must inventory and then transfer their digital-asset holdings to the new Treasury structures once operational. The bill also allows States to opt in to segregated accounts in the Reserve, orders a study on budget-neutral ways to acquire more Bitcoin, and adds Bitcoin accounting requirements to reports by the Exchange Stabilization Fund. The bill affirms protection of private property rights in lawfully owned Bitcoin.

What it means for you#

  • The Treasury would centralize custody of most federal Bitcoin and other digital assets.
  • The government would publicly report holdings and provide cryptographic proof that it controls the assets.
  • Bitcoin held by the government would generally be kept for long periods (20 years for Reserve Bitcoin; 5 years for forked or airdropped assets before possible sale).
  • States may choose to store their Bitcoin in segregated accounts at the Treasury under contract, while keeping legal title.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on specific appropriations or estimated costs is included in the bill text. The bill requires studies, reports, audits, security measures, and operational setup, but it does not state funding amounts.

Proponents' View#

The bill's findings describe reasons for the proposal: Bitcoin and other digital assets are growing in global finance, Bitcoin has been resilient and widely adopted, and adding Bitcoin to national holdings could diversify assets and support U.S. financial leadership. The bill emphasizes transparency, security, and long-term holding to strengthen financial resilience.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.