US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Make National Bitcoin Reserve Permanent

House lawmakers have introduced a bill to make the national Bitcoin Reserve permanent, marking a significant step towards institutionalizing cryptocurrency in the US economy. The American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, sponsored by Reps. Matt Van Epps (R-TN) and Nick Begich (R-AK), would codify President Trump's executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve within the US Department of the Treasury.

The reserve would hold BTC seized through federal law enforcement forfeitures and civil penalties, with any future sale of Bitcoin permitted only for reducing the national debt. This provision is aimed at addressing the country's $39 trillion national debt, which Van Epps argues makes this legislation 'essential.' The bill also affirms that individuals have the right to own, transfer, or self-custody digital assets, reflecting a libertarian undertone in some pro-Bitcoin lawmakers.

With 18 original co-sponsors from nine states, the Senate remains the tougher terrain for the bill's passage. Competing crypto legislation is moving through committee there, making it uncertain whether the necessary votes can be secured to become law.