The American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, or H.R. 8957, passed committee approval with a 28-21 vote in the House Committee on Financial Services. The decision follows a scheduled vote from last Wednesday, bringing the national crypto regulatory framework one step closer to becoming law.
The bill codifies a Trump executive order aimed at establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under the control of the US Treasury Department. The legislation’s strictest provision governs the treatment of crypto seized from criminal and civil cases, requiring the US government to hold those seized assets in the national treasury for at least 20 years.
$24.7 Billion Stash Changes Status
The volume of assets affected by this new rule reaches hundreds of thousands of coins. According to tracking data from Arkham Intelligence, the US government currently holds around 324,527 BTC seized from various law enforcement actions. That digital asset stockpile holds a market value of around $24.7 billion.
Introduced on May 21, 2026, by Rep. Nicholas Begich, the bill provides certainty for market supply. The two-decade holding requirement ensures the seized coins will not be offloaded onto open exchanges, but instead transitioned into an officially recognized pillar of the nation’s strategic reserve.
Quarterly Audits and Federal Vaults
All federal agencies holding digital assets will now be bound by strict transparency rules. The bill requires them to report details of managed crypto assets, provide quarterly proof-of-reserve reports, and open their doors to independent third-party auditors.
States will also gain access to the same infrastructure and be permitted to deposit their local Bitcoin reserves in Federal Reserve vaults. At the same time, the bill safeguards citizen privacy through clauses establishing private property rights and Bitcoin self-custody as fundamental principles.
As a next step, the measure mandates a dedicated study on budget-neutral acquisition strategies. The United States is seeking the right formula to continue expanding its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve without burdening the current national budget.
Reported by Cointelegraph.
Read also: What Is Bitcoin Halving?
Previously: US Prepares to Lock Seized Bitcoin for 20 Years - Strategic Reserve Bill Heads to Vote This Wednesday
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
