U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Cynthia Lummis have introduced the Mined in America Act. The bill aims to strengthen U.S. control over Bitcoin mining infrastructure by reducing reliance on hardware from foreign adversaries and to formally codify President Trump’s earlier executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into law.

The Department of Commerce would create a certification program for crypto mining facilities and mining pools. Certified operations would need to phase out mining hardware linked to foreign adversaries, with a full transition expected by the end of the decade. Certification would provide access to certain federal programs and support.

Support for Domestic Manufacturing

The bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to assist U.S. companies in developing more secure, energy-efficient crypto mining equipment made onshore. It would place the reserve on a statutory basis rather than relying solely on executive action. Some reports mention mechanisms allowing certified U.S. miners to sell newly mined Bitcoin directly to the reserve in exchange for capital gains tax relief, creating a potential budget-neutral way to grow holdings.

Proponents highlight that the U.S. controls roughly 38% of global Bitcoin hash rate, yet ~97% of the hardware comes from China—creating a supply-chain vulnerability they argue is a liability for critical digital infrastructure. This legislation builds on the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance and Lummis’s long-standing advocacy for Bitcoin.

It treats Bitcoin mining as strategic infrastructure rather than purely a private industry matter, combining industrial policy, supply-chain security, and monetary strategy. Bitcoin advocates such as the Satoshi Action Fund have welcomed the focus on reducing foreign hardware dependence, while the voluntary nature of the certification and incentives rather than outright bans may make it more palatable to the industry.

Mining companies have increasingly pivoted toward AI/high-performance computing to diversify revenue, which could intersect with efforts to build advanced domestic hardware. The bill is still in its early stages—it has been introduced but not yet passed. Its prospects will depend on broader congressional support, budget considerations, and the evolving regulatory environment for crypto.

In short, the Mined in America Act represents an attempt to onshore key parts of the Bitcoin ecosystem—both the physical mining hardware supply chain and the policy framework for holding Bitcoin at the federal level—while addressing perceived national security risks in a sector that has grown strategically important. Whether it becomes law and how effectively it reshapes global mining dynamics remains to be seen.

The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) is a U.S. government initiative to treat Bitcoin as a national strategic reserve asset, similar to how gold or foreign currency reserves function in traditional finance. It was formally established via executive action and is now the subject of legislative efforts to make it permanent.

The SBR is dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin (BTC). The Digital Asset Stockpile holds other cryptocurrencies seized by the government. The policy rationale frames Bitcoin as a scarce, decentralized store of value that can support U.S. economic and strategic objectives without imposing new costs on taxpayers.

The reserve starts with existing government-held Bitcoin obtained through criminal and civil asset forfeiture proceedings not taxpayer-funded purchases. Agencies must review and transfer eligible BTC to the Treasury-managed reserve where legally possible. Bitcoin already in the reserve cannot be sold; it is to be held long-term as a reserve asset.

Estimates of initial holdings have varied, often cited around 200,000 BTC at the time of the order with some later public estimates ranging higher, up to ~325,000–328,000 BTC depending on the source and date. Exact figures depend on ongoing accounting and transfers across agencies. A full accounting of all federal digital asset holdings was required within 30 days of the order.

No sales of reserve BTC: Once deposited, Bitcoin is treated as a permanent strategic holding rather than inventory to be auctioned. The Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce are directed to explore ways to acquire additional Bitcoin without new taxpayer costs. The EO does not detail specific mechanisms leaving room for creative, revenue-neutral approaches.

The Department of the Treasury establishes a dedicated office for custody and management of the reserve accounts. Non-Bitcoin seized crypto goes into the Digital Asset Stockpile, where the Treasury has more flexibility in stewardship including potential sales under certain conditions, subject to law. The EO also required a 60-day evaluation of legal, investment, and custodial considerations, including any need for future legislation.

The executive order created the framework and directed initial steps, but full operationalization has faced hurdles. Reports indicate that certain legal authorizations for specialized custodial accounts require congressional action, causing delays a year after signing. Some discussions have pointed to potential inclusion in broader legislation in 2026.

The reserve exists in policy but its scale and mechanics continue to evolve pending further implementation or legislation. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced the Mined in America Act, which includes a provision to codify the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into statute. This would move it from executive authority to law, placing it formally within the Department of the Treasury and providing greater permanence.

The bill also ties into broader efforts to support domestic Bitcoin mining as strategic infrastructure. Earlier related proposals, such as Senator Lummis’s BITCOIN Act, sought similar goals, including mechanisms to grow holdings sometimes discussed in the context of aiming for ~1 million BTC or ~5% of total supply to parallel U.S. gold reserves.

Proponents view the reserve as a way to position the U.S. as a leader in digital assets, hedge against currency debasement, and avoid past practices of selling seized BTC at a perceived loss to taxpayers. No direct taxpayer burden: Emphasis remains on using forfeited assets and neutral strategies only.