Looking for the latest crypto news today? Several major developments in Washington could affect Bitcoin, digital asset taxation and the wider cryptocurrency industry.
U.S. lawmakers advanced separate proposals involving a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and new crypto tax rules on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Meanwhile, the Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act, putting greater attention on potential rulemaking from the SEC and CFTC.
US Lawmakers Advance Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill
U.S. lawmakers moved forward with legislation that could place the federal government’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve on a statutory footing.
The House Financial Services Committee considered H.R. 8957, the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, on September 16. The committee advanced the bill in a 28-21 vote. The legislation was originally introduced by Representative Nicholas Begich on May 21, 2026.
The proposal focuses on creating a more organized framework for managing Bitcoin held by the federal government. It would establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and set rules for the management and accounting of federally held digital assets.
The federal Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was originally established through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2025. The order directed the Treasury to maintain Bitcoin obtained primarily through criminal and civil asset forfeiture proceedings.
If H.R. 8957 eventually becomes law, the reserve would gain a legislative foundation rather than relying only on executive action.
The proposal also aims to improve transparency around federal Bitcoin holdings and create a more consistent approach to custody and management.
House Committee Advances Major Crypto Tax Bill
Crypto taxation was another major focus in Washington.
The House Ways and Means Committee approved the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act, H.R. 10357, in a bipartisan 38-5 vote. The proposal now moves forward for possible consideration by the full House.
The legislation seeks to modernize federal tax rules for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.
Among other measures, the bill would extend existing tax rules to digital assets, including wash-sale and constructive-sale provisions. It would also clarify the tax treatment of crypto mining and staking.
In addition, the proposal aims to reduce the reporting burden associated with small digital asset transactions. Current tax rules can require reporting even for relatively minor transactions, creating additional compliance requirements for crypto users.
The legislation would also allow eligible digital asset traders and dealers to use mark-to-market accounting. Furthermore, certain crypto donations could receive tax treatment similar to publicly traded securities.
CLARITY Act Fails to Advance in the Senate
The progress on the two House proposals comes shortly after a setback for broader U.S. crypto legislation.
On September 15, the Senate failed to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, commonly known as the CLARITY Act.
The procedural vote did not reach the 60 votes required to move forward. However, the legislation could still return through another procedural route or through future negotiations.
The CLARITY Act was designed to create a broader federal regulatory framework for digital assets. Among its central goals was providing clearer regulatory responsibilities for agencies overseeing the crypto market.
Its failure to advance has increased attention on what regulators may do without new legislation from Congress.
SEC and CFTC Could Accelerate Crypto Rulemaking
With the CLARITY Act stalled, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) could take a larger role in shaping U.S. crypto regulation.
Bernstein analysts said they expect the agencies to pursue an “aggressive and swift” rulemaking approach following the Senate vote.
Potential regulatory areas include rules for token issuance, decentralized finance, self-custody protocols and tokenized financial assets.
Regulators could also address rules surrounding real-world asset markets and other emerging areas of digital finance.
However, rules introduced by federal agencies are different from laws passed by Congress. Future administrations or regulators may have more flexibility to change agency rules than legislation enacted into federal law.
What This Means for the Crypto Industry
The latest developments show that U.S. crypto regulation is moving forward on several separate fronts.
Congress is considering legislation related to government Bitcoin holdings and digital asset taxation. At the same time, the failure of the CLARITY Act has shifted more attention toward regulatory agencies.
For Bitcoin investors and the wider crypto market, developments involving the SEC, CFTC, crypto taxation and the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve could remain important themes in the months ahead.
The regulatory landscape is still evolving, and both congressional action and agency rulemaking could influence how digital assets are traded, taxed and regulated in the United States.
