US House Committee Prepares to Vote on Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill
The House Financial Services Committee is set to mark up the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill on Wednesday, September 16. Introduced by Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK), the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 aims to codify a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve managed by the Treasury Department.
Under this legislation, all Bitcoin held in the reserve would be subject to a mandatory 20-year lockup, prohibiting any trades, swaps, or sales. Quarterly proof-of-reserve reports conducted by third-party auditors would also be mandated.
The reserve would primarily consist of Bitcoin seized through criminal and civil forfeitures, with no new market purchases or taxpayer dollars involved. A separate category called the Digital Asset Stockpile for non-Bitcoin digital assets would also be created.
By removing a significant portion of circulating supply from the market, the 20-year lockup provision could impact scarcity calculations for Bitcoin. The bill's passage would need to navigate the full House, Senate consideration, and presidential approval.