US House Republicans and Democrats propose bill to mandate Bitcoin reserve

A treasure trove of Bitcoin. Donald Trump's presidential campaign was marked by the promise of a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the United States. Once elected, the president signed a decree to this effect. But the tempo does not suit everyone on Capitol Hill: some legislators yesterday introduced a bill called ARMA, which wants to enshrine this reserve in legislative marble and force the Treasury to place an order. Heading to Washington to get the facts.

In March 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order ordering the US Treasury to build a strategic Bitcoin reserve. More than a year later, the project is stalled: no BTC purchases have been announced by the federal government. This is precisely what motivated Republican Representative for Alaska, Nick Begich, to introduce a bill called the American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA). His ambition: to enshrine the reserve in law and compel the Treasury to act.

Specifically, the text requires the Treasury Department to create and maintain a Bitcoin reserve for at least 20 years, with the same obligation for other cryptocurrencies held by the government. The project also provides for the centralization of all digital assets seized or confiscated by various federal agencies, and for the publication of a public report.

For Democratic co-author of the project, Jared Golden, the stakes are clear: to give weight to Donald Trump's decision and protect the strategic reserve from the "whims of Congress or future administrations."

A reserve that struggles to exist, and elected officials who are impatient

Because since the announcement, the purchase counter remains desperately at zero. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has even stated that his administration has no intention of buying Bitcoin on the market. This is enough to annoy cryptocurrency supporters, who see this reserve as a bulwark against inflation and the weight of American debt.

According to Nick Begich, ARMA aims to: "provide the necessary flexibility to expand America's reserve asset portfolio, which effectively serves as an insurance policy," and to "protect cryptocurrency from the whims of Congress or future administrations."

However, unanimity is far from being achieved. California Democrat Maxine Waters denounces a measure tailored to benefit those close to the president. She believes that "when the government holds strategic reserves, it is generally for an essential input that fuels the American economy and the daily lives of American families. Cryptocurrency, however, does not fit into these categories, as it has no intrinsic value."