S. 4251 — Mined in America Act of 2026

This section states congressional findings on the strategic importance of blockchain and digital asset technologies—including Bitcoin's resilience, the value of a federal Bitcoin strategic reserve, national security risks from foreign adversary-related mining hardware, the need for U.S.- or friendly nation-developed blockchain infrastructure, and the contributions of U.S. Bitcoin mining to artificial intelligence capabilities. It declares the purpose of the Act to be facilitating the replacement of foreign adversary-related mining hardware with U.S.- or friendly nation-manufactured compute infrastructure using existing federal programs and authorities.

This section defines terms used in the Act, including "certification program" (i.e., the Mined in America Certification Program established under section 4(a)), "demand response" and "demand-responsive," "foreign adversary" (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §4872(f)), "friendly nation," "high-density compute," "mining facility," "mining pool," "proof-of-work mining," and "Secretary" (i.e., Secretary of Commerce).

This section establishes a voluntary "Mined in America Certification Program" to certify proof-of-work mining facilities and mining pools (i.e., operations validating blockchain transactions such as for Bitcoin) that meet specified criteria, including physical location in the U.S. or a friendly nation; for mining pools, U.S. or friendly nation headquarters and operations without ownership, control, or undue influence by foreign adversaries; hardware sourcing standards phasing out active proof-of-work mining equipment manufactured by foreign adversaries (no purchases beginning January 1, 2027; not more than 75% beginning January 1, 2028; not more than 50% beginning January 1, 2029; and 0% beginning January 1, 2030); cybersecurity protocols; and other integrity criteria determined by the Secretary. Certifications (valid for up to two years and renewable upon demonstrated continued compliance) do not confer regulatory licenses but may serve as a basis for eligibility, priority, or participation in federal loans, grants, reimbursements, or procurement programs (with "preferred" designations available through December 31, 2029, for those with not more than 25% foreign adversary hardware); initial certifications are available before January 1, 2027, for operators submitting compliance plans and attesting to no post-enactment purchases of such equipment, with recognition of hardware repurposed for U.S./friendly nation alternatives (e.g., AI training or grid operations). The Secretary must promulgate implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment and establish an application/review process; the Secretary may share information with, or request information from, the Secretary of Energy or Agriculture.

This section expands eligibility under the Department of Energy's (DOE) Title XVII Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program (42 U.S.C. 16513)—which provides federal loan guarantees for high-risk projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions using advanced technologies—by adding a new category (14) for projects carried out by entities certified under section 4 of the Mined in America Act of 2026 involving (A) replacement of proof-of-work mining hardware related to foreign adversaries with compute infrastructure manufactured in the United States or a friendly nation for blockchain validation, artificial intelligence training, or high-efficiency data processing; (B) conversion of existing mining operations or data centers into grid-interactive or demand-responsive computing facilities using such infrastructure; or (C) deployment of computing systems enabling load shifting, flexible demand, or emissions reduction in coordination with regional transmission organizations, electric utilities, or demand response markets. It further expands the DOE infrastructure reinvestment program (42 U.S.C. 16517(a))—which supports repurposing of certain energy infrastructure—by adding as eligible projects those carried out by such certified entities involving the activities described in new 1703(b)(14)(A) or (B) or repurposing of energy infrastructure previously used with foreign-manufactured crypto mining hardware into facilities that reduce net energy intensity, improve load management flexibility, or provide computing for strategic industrial applications. This section also expands DOE smart grid investment grants (42 U.S.C. 17386)—which fund advanced grid technologies including demand response—for deployment of "Mined in America grid-interactive infrastructure," defined as U.S.-manufactured grid-responsive hardware, software, and control systems (supporting load curtailment, energy storage integration, or cybersecurity) deployed at certified U.S. or friendly nation facilities engaged in proof-of-work mining or AI training using such infrastructure. For each program, this section directs DOE to issue implementing regulations within 180 days after enactment addressing verification, documentation, certification coordination, and performance standards, while preserving all other project approval requirements.

This section establishes an exclusion from gross income for any gain recognized by a certified Bitcoin miner from the sale or exchange of qualified Bitcoin to the United States for deposit in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (new IRC §139M). A certified Bitcoin miner is a person certified under specified provisions of the Mined in America Act of 2026 (i.e., §4(b)(3)(A)(iv) or (C)); qualified Bitcoin is Bitcoin mined by such miner or acquired as a direct reward for participation in a qualifying mining pool under that act (§4(b)(2)(B)).

This section directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study assessing the load-management capabilities and grid-balancing potential of proof-of-work mining operations (e.g., cryptocurrency mining) and high-density compute facilities (e.g., data centers) in the United States. The study must evaluate (1) their ability to reduce peak electricity demand, shift loads with grid operators, or participate in demand response and reliability programs; (2) supporting technologies, infrastructure, and contracts for flexible compute operations; and (3) emissions, efficiency, and market integration effects across geographies and regulations. In conducting the study, the Secretary of Energy must consult the Secretary of Defense, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and at least one regional transmission organization or independent system operator, while coordinating with related studies to avoid duplication; the Secretary of Energy must submit an interim report within one year of enactment and a final report within two years to the Senate Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Commerce to jointly conduct a study on the national strategic relevance of decentralized artificial intelligence infrastructure operating over blockchain-based or distributed networks. The study must (1) evaluate decentralized AI systems using distributed computing resources and cryptographically secured protocols; (2) assess infrastructure resilience, censorship resistance, and national security implications compared to centralized AI models; (3) analyze potential economic, workforce, and infrastructure benefits of promoting decentralized compute models in the U.S.; and (4) provide recommendations for standards, security protocols, or national policy initiatives to support domestic development and deployment of such systems. It requires an interim report to specified congressional committees within one year of enactment and a final report within two years. In conducting the study, the secretaries must consult the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on the regulatory classification of digital tokens facilitating access to or operation of decentralized AI networks, with a sense of Congress that such tokens are functionally distinct from securities and subject to CFTC jurisdiction.

This section directs the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support the development of secure, energy-efficient hardware for cryptocurrency mining, including by awarding grants to design rigs meeting U.S. cybersecurity standards. It further directs the Director, acting through the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, to assist U.S. manufacturers in retooling for production of such hardware and to provide technical assistance to U.S. persons manufacturing cryptocurrency mining hardware.

This section establishes in the Department of the Treasury (1) the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, consisting of all Bitcoin forfeited to or received by the United States in satisfaction of civil monetary penalties (Government BTC) and any additional Bitcoin acquired, which is protected from sale or disposal except as expressly authorized by law enacted after the date of enactment; and (2) the United States Digital Asset Stockpile, consisting exclusively of other digital assets obtained through similar means. The section provides definitions (e.g., Bitcoin, mined Bitcoin, on-chain demonstration) and includes congressional findings citing Executive Order 14233 (issued March 6, 2025), which directed establishment of these reserves using forfeited assets and budget-neutral strategies for additional Bitcoin acquisitions, while promoting domestic proof-of-work mining infrastructure.