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HR 8957

American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Carey and 17 co-sponsors

The bill would create a centralized Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile in the Treasury to securely store, manage, and disclose federal digital assets.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8957

Overview

HR 8957, the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, proposes to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile within the Department of the Treasury to securely store and manage Bitcoin (and other digital assets) owned by the Federal Government. The bill aims to increase financial resilience, promote transparency, and explore budget-neutral avenues for Bitcoin acquisition, while consolidating existing government holdings under new custodial structures.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create a centralized, secure Federal government holding for qualifying Bitcoin (Strategic Bitcoin Reserve) and for other non-Bitcoin digital assets (Digital Asset Stockpile).
  • Improve transparency and accountability of federal digital asset holdings through a formal governance and oversight framework.
  • Explore budget-neutral methods to acquire additional Bitcoin and assess potential impacts on the national debt and fiscal position.
  • Consolidate custody of government digital assets, while protecting private property rights and ensuring appropriate security.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishments

    • Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: A secure storage facility within the Treasury for qualifying Bitcoin.
    • Digital Asset Stockpile: A separate Treasury structure for custody, management, and disposition of non-Bitcoin digital assets.
    • Both must be established within 180 days of enactment and subject to ongoing oversight and audits.

  • Definitions

    • Clarifies terms such as air drops, forks, digital assets, qualifying Bitcoin (limited to forfeited assets not needed for other statutory purposes), and Secretary (Secretary of the Treasury).

  • Asset management and disposition

    • Qualifying Bitcoin deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve; other digital assets into the Stockpile.
    • The Secretary may manage the Stockpile, including selling, exchanging, or converting non-Bitcoin assets, with proceeds used to increase Bitcoin holdings or reduce the national debt.
    • Transactions must be transparent and adhere to a Proof of Reserve system.

  • Forks and airdrops

    • Government-held forks/airdrops must be accounted for; 5-year hold period before sale/disposition of forked assets, unless explicitly authorized by law.
    • After the 5-year hold, the Secretary prioritizes retaining the dominant fork asset; non-dominant assets may be disposed of, with proceeds to the general fund unless a novel utility justifies retention.

  • Regulation and disclosure

    • Secretary empowered to issue regulations governing custody, interagency coordination, accounting standards, and public reporting.
    • Any sale of qualifying Bitcoin must follow a rule-based process emphasizing transparency and minimization of market disruption, with public disclosures including sale schedules and quantities.

  • Holding period and post-hold options

    • Minimum 20-year holding period for all Bitcoin held by the Reserve, with no disposals during that period.
    • Two years before the end of the holding period, the Secretary may recommend phased sale of up to 10% of assets over a two-year period, considering debt impact, market effects, diversification, and national resilience.

  • Consolidation and interim custody

    • Temporary custody and inventory of all federal agency holdings within 60 days; until certification of the Reserve/Stockpile, agencies retain current custody under existing protections but cannot sale/encumber during the interim except for national security or court/ restitution purposes.
    • Transfer of all holdings to the Reserve/Stockpile within 30 days after certification.

  • Voluntary state participation

    • Creates a program for states to store their Bitcoin holdings in segregated state accounts within the Reserve, with agreements outlining management responsibilities and the risk acceptance by the state.

  • Budget considerations and studies

    • Requires study on budget-neutral pathways to acquire additional Bitcoin, including mechanisms such as asset exchanges, forfeit proceeds, tax or revenue mechanisms, and potential cooperation with states/private entities.
    • Annual reporting to Congress detailing costs and benefits, with the caveat that the act does not authorize new borrowing or net increases in the national debt for Bitcoin acquisition.

  • Protection of private property rights

    • Explicitly preserves individuals’ rights to acquire, hold, transfer, and dispose of Bitcoin lawfully; rejects government seizure or impairment of private property outside existing laws.

  • ESF (Exchange Stabilization Fund) amendments

    • Updates to ESF reporting to include detailed Bitcoin transaction and holdings information.

Who and what would be affected

  • Federal government digital asset holdings would be centralized into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (Bitcoin) and Digital Asset Stockpile (non-Bitcoin assets).
  • Federal agencies would transition their Bitcoin holdings to the new reserves once operational.
  • States could participate voluntarily in a segregated state account program within the Reserve.
  • Private sector actors could be involved via advisory roles, audits, and potential market effects from Bitcoin sales.
  • The Comptroller General would oversee compliance and auditing, with quarterly reserve attestations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Enactment triggers a 180-day window to establish both the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the Digital Asset Stockpile.
  • A temporary custody regime remains in place until certification of full operational status.
  • Minimum 20-year holding requirement for Bitcoin deposited in the Reserve; future sale/disposition subject to further statutory process.
  • A study on budget-neutral acquisition methods due within 180 days; annual reports thereafter.
  • A 60-day reporting requirement from agencies for inventory; 30-day transfer window after certification.

Potential implications

  • Increased government exposure to Bitcoin and digital-asset markets, with long-term hold implications for fiscal policy and market dynamics.
  • Emphasis on transparency and auditable governance, including cryptographic proofs of reserve.
  • Possible debates over budget neutrality, national debt impact, and the strategic value of Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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