Bitcoin Becomes a National Strategic Asset? U.S. Congressman Proposes Annual Purchase of 200,000 BTC, Locked for 20 Years Without Sale
U.S. Representative Nick Begich (R-Alaska) introduced the "American Reserve Modernization Act" (ARMA) on May 21, aiming to codify a strategic Bitcoin reserve into law. Building on a prior executive order, the bill seeks to establish a permanent national Bitcoin reserve managed by the Treasury Department.
The proposed legislation would authorize the Treasury to acquire up to 200,000 Bitcoin annually for five years, targeting a total reserve of 1 million Bitcoin, roughly 5% of the total supply. All acquired Bitcoin would be locked and held for at least 20 years. Representative Begich likened Bitcoin's role in crypto to gold's in precious metals, calling it the dominant store of value in its asset class.
The U.S. government currently holds approximately 328,000 Bitcoin, largely from law enforcement seizures, but lacks a coherent management strategy for these assets. Co-sponsors emphasized the urgency of addressing this gap.
This move coincides with a wave of crypto-friendly legislation in Washington, including recent bipartisan committee approval of a major digital asset market structure bill. Concurrently, the Treasury has intensified crackdowns on illicit crypto finance, seizing hundreds of millions in assets, further highlighting the need for a comprehensive digital asset strategy. The White House has indicated that operational details for the strategic Bitcoin reserve are forthcoming, with key legal hurdles reportedly cleared.
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