House committees are scheduled to consider two crypto-related proposals on Sept. 16, according to a post from Cointelegraph. The bills would address everyday transaction taxes and the federal government’s long-term treatment of seized or otherwise held bitcoin, although neither measure has yet passed a chamber.
The Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act would create a tax exemption for certain small cryptocurrency transactions. Its aim is to reduce the compliance burden created when consumers use digital assets for ordinary purchases and potentially owe capital gains tax on each transaction.
Under current U.S. tax treatment, spending cryptocurrency can generally be treated as a disposal of an asset. That means users may need to calculate the difference between an asset’s purchase price and its value when spent, even for a small payment. A de minimis exemption could make crypto payments more practical for consumers and merchants by removing record keeping requirements for low-value transactions.
The bill’s impact would depend on details that remain unclear, including the maximum transaction value, whether the exemption would apply to all digital assets or only certain types, and how gains and losses would be calculated. Lawmakers would also need to address potential strategies for dividing larger transactions into smaller payments.
The second proposal, identified in the Cointelegraph post as the American Reserve Modernization Act, would restrict the government from selling approximately $25 billion in bitcoin for at least 20 years. The measure would represent a major shift in the management of digital assets acquired through seizures, forfeitures and other government actions.
A holding requirement could prevent the government from becoming a regular source of bitcoin supply in the market. It would also effectively position bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset, rather than an asset to be liquidated when legally permitted. That approach could influence institutional expectations about the role of digital assets in public finance.
The policy would carry risks as well. Bitcoin’s value can fluctuate sharply, and a long-term restriction would limit the government’s ability to convert holdings into dollars or respond to changing fiscal priorities. The bill’s definition of government-held bitcoin, along with rules for custody and management, could become central issues during committee consideration.
The scheduled action does not establish whether lawmakers will hold hearings, conduct markups or vote on the proposals. Both bills would still require approval by the full House and Senate, followed by presidential action, before becoming law.
Sarah Thompson is a cryptocurrency journalist specializing in global regulation, institutional finance, and the policies shaping the future of digital assets. Her reporting focuses on the intersection of blockchain technology, financial markets, and government oversight, covering everything from Bitcoin ETFs and stablecoin legislation to central bank digital currencies, securities regulation, and international crypto policy.
She closely follows how regulators, financial institutions, and technology companies influence the evolution of digital finance across North America, Europe, and Asia. Sarah's work helps readers understand how legislative decisions, regulatory frameworks, and macroeconomic policy affect innovation, investment, and the long-term adoption of cryptocurrencies. Her audience includes investors, executives, policymakers, and professionals seeking clear analysis of the legal and financial landscape surrounding digital assets.
This article was written with the assistance of an AI system and published automatically.