Rep. Warren Davidson has introduced legislation that would allow Americans to pay federal taxes with bitcoin. The Ohio Republican's bill offers a capital gains tax exemption for those who choose this payment method. The proposal also directs these funds toward establishing a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The Bitcoin for America Act represents a significant shift in how the government might accumulate digital assets. Davidson announced the measure on his official website on Thursday. The congressman has supported bitcoin since 2012.
The legislation aims to modernize the nation's financial infrastructure. It positions the United States as a leader in the adoption of digital assets. Davidson emphasized that millions of Americans already use cryptocurrency in their daily lives.
Capital Gains Relief and Strategic Implications
The bill's primary incentive eliminates capital gains liability for taxpayers who use Bitcoin for federal tax payments. This provision addresses a major barrier to cryptocurrency adoption. Current tax law treats bitcoin as a form of property. Taxpayers must report gains or losses when they spend or sell it.
Davidson argues the reserve would benefit the nation through asset appreciation. He contrasts Bitcoin's fixed supply with the dollar's declining purchasing power due to inflation. The congressman expressed his regret that Congress had ignored his 2016 warnings, when Bitcoin was trading between $500 and $600.
The country's $38 trillion debt burden makes the proposal particularly relevant. Davidson believes bitcoin accumulation could provide significant fiscal upside. The digital asset's scarcity and growing adoption support expectations of continued value appreciation.
Reserve Funding Without Taxpayer Money
President Donald Trump's executive order in early March authorized the creation of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. However, the administration has not yet established the reserve. White House and Treasury officials indicate congressional action will likely be necessary.
Trump disappointed many crypto advocates when he specified the reserve would not use taxpayer funds. Davidson's bill potentially sidesteps this limitation. The legislation relies on voluntary contributions from taxpayers seeking capital gains relief.
Conner Brown leads strategy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute. He praised the bill as the first democratic, market-driven approach to national bitcoin accumulation. The model avoids top-down mandates while building federal holdings.
Current federal bitcoin holdings stand at approximately 198,012 BTC. Arkham's tracker recently valued this at around $17 billion. These assets came primarily from law enforcement seizures and forfeitures.
The bill arrives during a significant decline in Bitcoin's price. The timing highlights the inherent volatility of cryptocurrency markets. Davidson's proposal assumes Bitcoin will appreciate over time due to its fixed supply of 21 million coins.
At press time, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $84,591, representing a 2.06% decline over the last 24 hours.
BTC Price action over the last 24 hours, Source: CoinMarketCap
