The U.S. House of Representatives plans to set a 20-year holding period for strategic Bitcoin reserves

According to the official website of the U.S. Congress, the full text of the U.S. House of Representatives' "American Reserve Modernization Act" (H.R.8957, ARMA) has been made public. This bill was introduced on May 21 by Alaska Congressman Nicholas Begich and has now been referred to the House Financial Services Committee for review.

The main content of the bill includes: incorporating Bitcoin obtained by the government through criminal or civil forfeiture into a strategic Bitcoin reserve managed by the Treasury Department, establishing a minimum holding period of 20 years during which it cannot be sold or disposed of; establishing a quarterly reserve verification mechanism and introducing independent third-party audits; allowing states to voluntarily hold their Bitcoin in independent accounts at the Federal Reserve.

In terms of forward-looking provisions, the bill requires the Treasury Department and the Department of Commerce to jointly study feasible paths for increasing Bitcoin holdings in a budget-neutral manner within 180 days, including converting non-Bitcoin digital assets, forfeiture proceeds, voluntary donations, tax or tariff revenues, and utilizing mechanisms related to the Federal Reserve or gold certificates.

Analysts point out that compared to the previous "BITCOIN Act," which called for the purchase of 1 million Bitcoins, ARMA is more moderate and politically feasible, but still leaves room for future federal increases in Bitcoin holdings.