US Congress Introduces Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Bill

The US Congress is moving forward with HR 5166, a bill that pushes the Treasury Department to design a full custody and management plan for federal Bitcoin holdings. The centerpiece is the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, treated much like gold or oil stockpiles. What stands out is that the bill doesn’t give the Treasury authority to buy new Bitcoin. The focus is on how to safeguard and govern what is already owned or may be seized in the future.

Treasury’s 90-Day Feasibility Report

The Treasury now has 90 days to present a feasibility report. That covers custody systems, cybersecurity protections, legal frameworks, and coordination across agencies. On top of that, the Treasury and the National Security Agency are tasked with producing a classified report on digital asset security. Section 138 of the bill also demands a detailed plan for all federal digital assets, including the Bitcoin Reserve and the broader Digital Asset Stockpile.

Trump’s Executive Order and Federal Bitcoin Holdings

This effort builds on Trump’s March 2025 executive order, which set up the framework for a Strategic Reserve funded by seized Bitcoin. The US already holds around 198,000 to 207,000 Bitcoin, valued between 17 and 20 billion dollars. That’s a sharp shift from earlier years when seized Bitcoin was auctioned off. Treating these assets as part of a Strategic Reserve signals a pivot toward viewing them as tools for National Security and financial stability.

Senator Lummis and the Bold BITCOIN Act

Parallel to this, Senator Lummis has proposed the BITCOIN Act. That bill goes much further: buying one million Bitcoin over five years, requiring a 20-year minimum hold, and spreading storage across secure sites nationwide. It even suggests selling some Federal Reserve gold certificates to finance the plan. If passed, it would be the boldest national bet on digital assets to date.

Global Governments Building Bitcoin Reserves

The US is not alone here. China holds close to 194,000 Bitcoin, mostly from the PlusToken case. Bhutan has over 11,000, mined with hydropower, worth more than a billion dollars, equal to about a third of its GDP. El Salvador still holds around 6,000 Bitcoin, despite reversing its legal tender status earlier this year. Other governments are exploring reserves as well: Russia as a hedge against sanctions, Japan through pension funds, Brazil and Poland through legislation. Even smaller economies like the Czech Republic are debating Strategic Reserves.

State-Level Momentum on Reserve Bill

At the state level, momentum is building. Texas has already set up its own Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through SB 21. New Hampshire and Arizona have passed Digital Asset investment laws. In total, 16 states have introduced Bitcoin Reserve legislation this year. The direction is clear: the reserve concept is moving from the fringes to the mainstream of US financial policy.

Why Nations See Value in a Bitcoin Reserve

The underlying logic is straightforward. A Bitcoin Reserve is like an emergency savings account for a country. Instead of dollars or oil, it’s digital assets with a capped supply and no central control. That makes it attractive in an era of currency debasement and geopolitical risk. Framed this way, Bitcoin is not just a speculative bet. It is being folded into the national security toolkit.

The debate is far from settled. Some question the volatility. Others argue the risk lies in ignoring it while other nations move ahead. Either way, the US is signaling it sees strategic value in holding Bitcoin, not selling it off. This could mark the start of a global race to build digital reserves that carry real weight in geopolitics and finance.