Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill set for House committee vote Wednesday
Sep 15, 2026
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee has scheduled a markup of legislation that would put the federal Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into law and require government-held Bitcoin to remain in the reserve for at least 20 years.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill would lock BTC for 20 years
H.R. 8957 would require the Treasury secretary to create a secure storage facility called the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve within 180 days of enactment. A separate Digital Asset Stockpile would handle non-Bitcoin crypto assets held by the federal government.
Bill sets out public proof of reserve requirements
Federal Bitcoin holdings would face a new disclosure regime if H.R. 8957 becomes law.
The Treasury secretary would be required to establish an ongoing proof-of-reserve system using public cryptographic attestations. Quarterly reports would disclose total holdings and transactions while demonstrating control of private keys tied to the reserve.
Treasury would study budget-neutral Bitcoin purchases
H.R. 8957 stops short of ordering the government to buy a fixed amount of Bitcoin.
Instead, Treasury and the Department of Commerce would have 180 days after enactment to jointly study the risks, costs and potential benefits of acquiring more BTC over the following five years without increasing the national debt.
States could place Bitcoin in segregated federal accounts
The proposal extends the reserve structure to state governments without requiring them to participate.
Treasury would establish a voluntary program allowing states to place their Bitcoin holdings in segregated accounts within the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Participating states would retain title to their Bitcoin and to digital assets generated through related forks or airdrops.
Each state would agree with the Treasury covering security protocols, access controls and responsibility for the assets. States could withdraw or transfer holdings subject to the agreement and applicable federal regulations, while accepting the risks associated with digital asset custody.
The federal effort has developed alongside state-level reserve programs. Texas, for example, has been working toward direct Bitcoin custody after initially gaining exposure through BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust.
H.R. 8957 would separately protect private ownership by stating that the legislation cannot be used to authorize federal seizure or confiscation of lawfully acquired Bitcoin. It affirms the rights of individuals, businesses, and organizations to legally purchase, hold, transfer, or dispose of Bitcoin and other digital assets, including the ability to maintain self-custody of private keys.
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