House Panel Advances Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill in 28-21 Vote

Two House committees moved crypto legislation forward on Wednesday, backing a bill to create a Strategic Bitcoin (BTC) Reserve along with a separate proposal setting federal tax rules for digital assets.

These votes came just a day after the Senate was unable to invoke cloture on the CLARITY Act, a setback for a major push to create a more defined regulatory landscape for the crypto sector.

Two Panels, Two Distinct Paths

The Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act failed to move forward in the U.S. Senate on September 15. House Financial Services Chairman French Hill and House Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson said afterward that Congress still needs to establish rules for the industry.

By the next morning, two separate proposals had cleared committee, showing that efforts on digital assets continue along different routes.

The House Financial Services Committee backed H.R. 8957, the American Reserve Modernization Act, with a 28-21 vote. Representative Nick Begich first introduced this legislation in May.

The American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA) just cleared the House Financial Services Committee.

We built support with members of Congress, subject matter experts, Commerce, and Treasury. Significant effort was made by committee staff on this important legislation, and for… https://t.co/U7qq3dMFMc

— Congressman Nick Begich (@RepNickBegich) September 16, 2026

This measure would transfer federally seized Bitcoin into a Treasury reserve, holding it for no less than 20 years. A second stockpile would cover other digital assets.

“We cannot allow Bitcoin to be held by the federal government to languish in fragmented and inconsistent custody… It directs the Treasury Department to centralize the custody of all Bitcoin and other digital assets seized through the final criminal and civil forfeiture…” Representative Bryan Steil said.

Arkham Intelligence estimates the U.S. government controls 324,527 Bitcoin valued at $24.8 billion as of the latest data.

Lawmakers Push Crypto Tax Legislation

The House Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 10357, the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act, by a 38-5 margin. Chairman Jason Smith introduced the bill on September 14.

PASSED: The Ways and Means Committee just passed the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act — a historic step toward establishing a clear tax framework for digital assets.

Through strong bipartisan collaboration, Republicans and Democrats came together to modernize outdated tax rules… pic.twitter.com/g5aUK7TVNL

— Ways and Means Committee (@WaysandMeansGOP) September 16, 2026

The proposal aims to create a straightforward tax framework for digital assets and extends wash-sale rules to cover them.

“This legislation would be the first-ever federal law to address the substantive tax treatment of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets – affecting the one in four Americans that currently hold some form of cryptocurrency, more than 67 million people,” Chairman Smith stated.

Both bills still require votes on the House floor, passage in the Senate, and the president's signature, with the 119th Congress set to adjourn in January.