A Freshman Congressman From Nashville Wants To Make The National Bitcoin Reserve Permanent

The American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 would codify a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve established by a March 2025 executive order. The reserve would be placed within the U.S. Department of the Treasury and would hold Bitcoin obtained through federal law enforcement forfeitures and civil penalties. The legislation would give the reserve statutory authority rather than leaving it dependent on future administrations. Support centers on fiscal goals tied to the national debt. Any future sale of Bitcoin from the reserve would be allowed only to reduce the national debt, with no transfers to other government programs and no discretionary spending. Supporters also frame the bill as reflecting local Bitcoin activity in Nashville.

"“Nashville is one of the nation's leading Bitcoin hubs,” Van Epps said in a statement to Bitcoin Magazine, pointing to Bitcoin Park, the city's growing digital asset community, and the annual Bitcoin conference, set to return to Nashville in 2027. “Nashville is quickly emerging as one of the nation's leading Bitcoin hubs, with a growing digital asset community, institutions like Bitcoin Park, and the annual Bitcoin conference, which is scheduled to come back to Nashville in 2027,” Van Epps said. “Supporting this bill means supporting the financial innovation taking place in my district.”"

"Van Epps co-led the legislation alongside Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK), who introduced the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, known as ARMA. The bill would codify President Trump's March 2025 executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve - giving it the force of statute rather than leaving it to the discretion of future administrations. The reserve would sit inside the U.S. Department of the Treasury and hold BTC seized through federal law enforcement forfeitures and civil penalties."

"Van Epps' central argument for the legislation is fiscal. “With a national debt of $39 trillion, this is an essential piece of legislation,” he said. Under ARMA, any future sale of Bitcoin from the reserve would be permitted for only one purpose: reducing the national debt. No transfers to other government programs, no discretionary spending - just debt"

Read at Bitcoin Magazine