Key Highlights
- U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Cynthia Lummis introduced the “Mined in America Act” to bring Bitcoin mining operations into the United States.
- The bill creates a voluntary certification program for mining companies and aims to phase out foreign-made mining equipment.
- The bill also establishes a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under the Department of the Treasury.
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Cynthia Lummis introduced the “Mined in America Act” in the United States today to support Bitcoin mining operations in the country.
The bill is expected to reduce reliance on foreign-made machines and create a national Bitcoin reserve by guiding government agencies and the crypto industry. According to the senators, this would strengthen the country’s control over digital asset mining.
Reducing dependence on foreign machines
The senators said the United States depends too much on machines made in other countries, especially China. According to the Satoshi Action Fund, the U.S. produces about 38% of global Bitcoin mining power, but about 97% of the machines used come from China. Lawmakers say this creates a risk because the country does not control the tools it depends on.
To address this, the bill directs the Department of Commerce to create a voluntary “Mined in America” certification program. Mining companies and mining pools, which are groups of miners working together, can apply for this certification.
Companies that qualify would need to phase out equipment linked to foreign adversaries over time. Instead of introducing new government spending, the bill uses existing federal energy and rural development programs to support companies making this transition.
According to Senator Lummis, “The Mined in America Act brings this industry home through forward-thinking initiatives to secure our financial future. I’m proud to join Senator Cassidy to ensure the future of digital assets is built right here in America.”
Supporting domestic mining and manufacturing
The bill also assigns roles to federal agencies. The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership are tasked with supporting U.S. manufacturers in producing mining hardware that is both secure and energy-efficient.
Another key part of the bill is the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under the Department of the Treasury. This would allow the government to store Bitcoin as part of its financial resources, similar to how countries hold reserves of gold or foreign currency. The measure formally puts into law an earlier executive action by Donald Trump.
In short, this bill aims to build a complete domestic system for Bitcoin mining, including local manufacturing and connecting mining activity to national reserves.
Broader context
Bitcoin mining has become a global industry, with countries competing for control due to its economic and technological value. For instance, the Royal Government of Bhutan holds about $287 million in Bitcoin, which it was able to achieve through mining.
After China reduced its role in crypto mining, the United States became one of the top places for mining. However, most of the machines are still made outside the country.
The “Mined in America Act” aims to address this gap by encouraging local production and linking Bitcoin mining to national planning.
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