U.S. Bitcoin Reserve Stalls in Congress, A Year After Trump Order

A year after former President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, the initiative remains stalled in Congress. While the crypto industry initially celebrated the move as a sign of mainstream acceptance, the reserve has yet to be operationalized due to a lack of legislative action.

Executive Order and Initial Response

On March 6, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aiming to position the United States as a leader in government digital asset strategy. The order called for the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, capitalized with Bitcoin already held by the Treasury Department through criminal and civil asset forfeitures [1]. A separate U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile was likewise proposed for other cryptocurrencies obtained through forfeiture proceedings.

Legislative Hurdles and Congressional Action

The Trump administration quickly realized that implementing the order required congressional authorization to establish the necessary accounts. According to sources, the administration determined “the need for any legislation to operationalize any aspect of this order” [3]. The Treasury Department lacks the authority to build the specialized accounts without congressional approval.

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced legislation proposing the creation of the strategic bitcoin reserve and a purchase of 1,000,000 BTC [1]. However, as of March 7, 2026, the legislation has only reached committee stage. A potential avenue for passage may be through inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act later in the year [3].

Government Bitcoin Holdings

The United States federal government is estimated to hold approximately 328,372 BTC, valued at over $20 billion as of February 2026 [1]. However, officials remain hesitant to disclose the exact amount of Bitcoin in federal possession.

Future Outlook

The success of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve hinges on renewed prioritization by the Trump administration and bipartisan support in Congress. The reserve’s potential inclusion in the “Christmas tree” spending bill later this year offers a possible path forward, but its fate remains uncertain. The executive order itself, while significant, lacks the force of law and serves primarily as a guiding principle for future action [3].