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Bill

HR 10317

Inventory Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Lance Gooden and 1 co-sponsor

The act imposes federal-wide scanning, safeguarding, and annual audits of cryptocurrency key material and digital assets in agency custody to improve secure handling and oversight.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 10317

Purpose and intent

  • HR 10317, the Digital Asset Inventory and Audit Act of 2026 (also called the Inventory Act of 2026), aims to create federal requirements and oversight for digital assets in the custody of Federal agencies. The bill would establish scanning, safeguarding, auditing, and reporting obligations related to cryptocurrency private key material and related wallet material found in electronic storage and custody of government agencies.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Section 2)
    • Crypto graphic key material: broad definition including private/public keys, seed phrases, mnemonic phrases, key shares, multi-party computation shares, authentication credentials, and other material used to control or access crypto assets.
    • Digital asset: as defined in the Genus Act (12 U.S.C. 5901).
    • Discovery and scanning tool: software designed to locate and inventory cryptocurrency private key material and related facts to support audit, seizure, and forfeiture.
    • Wallet material: encompasses various wallet forms (custodial, non-custodial, hardware, software, mobile, web, multi-signature, etc.) and related technologies that control digital assets.
  • Identification and safeguarding of digital assets in Federal custody (Section 3)
    • By no later than 180 days after enactment, a binding directive from the Attorney General (in coordination with DHS, the Treasury, and the Director of National Intelligence) requires agencies that collect or seize electronically stored information to:
    • Scan for high-value digital assets in the form of private key material.
    • Secure such assets promptly upon acquisition.
    • Conduct annual audits to oversee activity logs and secure handling/storage of digital assets.
    • Scanning upon seizure or forfeiture: agencies must scan seized or forfeited electronic records for digital assets and cryptographic key material as soon as practicable.
    • Standards and protocols: AG, with NIST, to develop technical standards for discovery/scanning tools, secure extraction/storage/access control of key material, preservation of chain of custody, and logging/monitoring of access.
    • Training: AG to establish training for law enforcement, digital evidence custodians, and forensic examiners on digital asset discovery, handling, storage, and audit compliance.
  • Annual digital asset audits (Section 4)
    • Each agency that handles electronically stored information must conduct an annual digital asset audit to identify assets and key material, verify custody controls, identify losses or deficiencies, and document corrective actions.
    • After each audit, agency heads must report within 180 days to the Attorney General and relevant Senate/House committees detailing findings and remediation measures.
  • Additional audit and oversight authorities (Section 5)
    • Internal and external audits: in addition to GAO oversight, agency IGs or courts may appoint monitors to audit electronic devices for digital assets and key material.
    • No limitation: the act does not limit other lawful audit/oversight authorities, nor authorize broader collection or use of information or assets beyond what is allowed by law.
  • Interagency coordination (Section 6)
    • The Attorney General must convene an interagency working group to coordinate custody practices, share audit findings, and develop best practices across federal agencies.
  • Comptroller General review (Section 7)
    • GAO reviews to occur not later than 1 year after enactment and every 3 years thereafter, with findings and recommendations reported to Congress.
  • Forfeiture fund funding and appropriations (Section 8)
    • Amends asset forfeiture statutes to authorize payments from forfeiture funds to acquire digital forensic tools necessary to carry out the Inventory Act.
    • Applies to both the Asset Forfeiture Fund (28 U.S.C. 524) and the Treasury-forfeiture fund (31 U.S.C. 9705), adding a new line item for digital forensic tools.

Who/what is affected

  • Federal agencies that collect, seize, or maintain electronically stored information containing digital assets or cryptographic key material.
  • Federal law enforcement, digital evidence custodians, and forensic examiners who handle such assets.
  • Oversight bodies: Attorney General, NIST, GAO, Inspectors General, and relevant congressional committees (Judiciary, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Intelligence, and Financial Services).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective timeline:
    • Within 180 days of enactment: binding directive requiring scanning, safeguarding, and annual audits.
    • As soon as practicable after seizures/forfeitures: immediate scanning of asset material.
  • Ongoing auditing and reporting:
    • Annual asset audits required; post-audit reports due within 180 days of audit completion.
    • GAO review due starting within 1 year, then every 3 years.
  • Interagency coordination and funding:
    • Establishment of interagency group for best practices.
    • Forfeiture funds updated to cover digital forensic tools.

Potential impact

  • Establishes a formal government-wide framework for identifying and securing cryptocurrency-related key material in federal custody.
  • Increases transparency and accountability through mandatory annual audits and public-facing reporting to Congress.
  • Strengthens capabilities for discovery, seizure, and forfeiture of digital assets by providing authorized funding and standardized procedures.
  • Could influence how agencies handle electronic evidence containing private keys and digital asset material, with emphasis on chain-of-custody and security controls.

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

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