A US congressman’s ARMA Bill could lock in a 20-year Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Here’s the core proposal, why it matters for Bitcoin policy, and what to watch next.
U.S. Congressman Nick Begich and Senator Cynthia Lummis have introduced the ARMA Bill, a legislative proposal that would codify a 20-year Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into federal law, marking a significant step toward long-term government commitment to holding Bitcoin as a national asset.
WHAT TO KNOW
- The ARMA Bill would formally establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve with a 20-year holding mandate, turning an executive-level concept into binding legislation.
- Codifying the reserve means future administrations could not easily dismantle it, giving the policy durability beyond any single presidency.
What the ARMA Bill Proposes
The bill, formally introduced by Congressman Nick Begich and Senator Lummis, aims to write a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into U.S. law with a two-decade minimum holding period. The legislation builds on a concept that gained executive-level traction earlier, when the White House issued an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in March 2025.
By moving the reserve from executive action to statute, the ARMA Bill would make it far harder for a future administration to reverse the policy through executive order alone. The proposal was announced through an official press release from Congressman Begich’s office, which described it as a “landmark” Bitcoin act.
The bill also reportedly includes provisions related to Bitcoin self-custody protections, as reported by FXStreet, broadening its scope beyond the reserve itself.
Why a Codified Bitcoin Reserve Could Reshape U.S. Policy
Executive orders are powerful but fragile. A new president can revoke them on day one. Codifying the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into legislation would require Congress to pass a repeal bill to undo it, a significantly higher bar.
The 20-year timeframe signals that sponsors view Bitcoin as a long-horizon strategic asset rather than a short-term political gesture. This framing aligns Bitcoin reserves more closely with how the U.S. treats its gold reserves or the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, both of which exist under statutory authority.
For readers following how U.S. regulatory posture toward crypto is evolving, this bill sits alongside other recent federal actions. The government has also been active on the enforcement side, targeting crypto laundering networks, and the SEC has moved to freeze certain crypto-adjacent financial products, showing the range of policy approaches in play.
What Comes Next for the ARMA Bill
As a newly introduced bill, the ARMA proposal faces committee review, potential markup, floor debate, and reconciliation between House and Senate versions before it could become law. That process can take months or longer, and many bills never advance past committee.
Key things to watch include which committees receive the bill, whether it attracts bipartisan co-sponsors, and how the official bill text (filed as HR 2032) may be amended during review. The involvement of both a House member and a senator suggests a coordinated bicameral push, which could improve its chances relative to single-chamber proposals.
Meanwhile, the broader landscape of crypto policy continues to shift. Developments like Tether’s expanding corporate investments underscore how quickly the intersection of digital assets and institutional strategy is moving, making legislative frameworks like the ARMA Bill increasingly relevant to the debate.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
