U.S. New Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Removes 1 Million BTC Purchase Target, Introduces 20-Year Lockup Period

Odaily Odaily reports that the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced a new bipartisan bill, the "American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026" (ARMA), which aims to include Bitcoin held by the U.S. government in a strategic reserve and requires a minimum 20-year lock-up period.

Unlike the previously proposed BITCOIN Act, the new bill no longer requires the U.S. government to purchase 1 million BTC. Instead, it primarily incorporates Bitcoin already held or acquired in the future through means such as criminal and civil forfeitures into the reserve. Additionally, the bill will establish a separate Digital Asset Stockpile to manage non-Bitcoin crypto assets held by the federal government.

According to the draft, Bitcoin entered into the strategic reserve shall not be sold, exchanged, auctioned, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of for 20 years. After the lock-up period ends, the Secretary of the Treasury may recommend selling up to 10% of the reserve assets within any two-year period.

The bill also requires the government to publish quarterly reserve proofs and conduct third-party audits of its Bitcoin holdings. Supporters argue that the U.S. should not sell strategic digital assets but should hold them long-term as part of a modernized national reserve system.