ARMA Bill Introduced to Codify 1 Million Bitcoin Reserve

Rep. Nick Begich (R‑AK) and Rep. Jared Golden (D‑ME) unveiled the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 on May 21, a bipartisan effort to embed President Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into federal law and set a target of 1 million BTC under Treasury control [1]. The legislation directs the Treasury to acquire up to 200,000 BTC per year for five years, with purchases funded through “budget‑neutral acquisition strategies” that would avoid new taxes or deficit spending [4].

Beyond the purchase plan, the bill creates a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for other cryptocurrencies and requires every federal agency to inventory any digital assets it holds, transferring custody to the Treasury for consolidated management [1]. To keep the reserve insulated from short‑term political pressure, any Bitcoin acquired must be held for a minimum of 20 years, and sales are permitted only to reduce the national debt [1]. Quarterly “Proof of Reserve” reports, independent third‑party audits, and congressional oversight are mandated to ensure transparency [1].

Supporters argue the reserve would treat Bitcoin as a sovereign store of value comparable to gold, providing an insurance policy for the nation’s balance sheet [3]. Critics, including Rep. Maxine Waters, warn that crypto lacks inherent value and view the reserve as a benefit to Trump insiders [2]. The bill’s co‑sponsor list includes 18 members, with Golden the sole Democrat, and it builds on the March 2025 executive order that created the initial reserve but remains reversible by future administrations [1].

If passed, the ARMA Act would give Congress the “weight of law” to protect the reserve from future executive whims, while also affirming individuals’ rights to own, transfer, or self‑custody digital assets [1]. The open question now is whether the Treasury can secure the required gold revaluation or other budget‑neutral funding to meet the 1 million‑BTC goal without triggering political resistance.