A freshman representative from Nashville has stepped forward as a leading advocate for legislation that would transform President Trump’s executive order on Bitcoin into permanent law. Rep. Matt Van Epps, whose district includes a thriving digital asset community, sees the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 as a natural extension of Nashville’s emergence as a cryptocurrency hub. The city is home to Bitcoin Park, a dynamic center for blockchain innovation, and will host the annual Bitcoin conference in 2027.
Van Epps is among 18 original co-sponsors of ARMA, which was introduced in May by Rep. Nick Begich and Democratic co-lead Rep. Jared Golden. The bill aims to give statutory permanence to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve established by Trump’s March 2025 executive order, ensuring no future administration could overturn it with a simple directive. The measure would lock any federally held Bitcoin for a minimum of two decades and permit sales solely for reducing the national debt, which currently stands at $39 trillion.
Under the proposed law, the U.S. Treasury would be authorized to acquire up to 200,000 Bitcoin annually over five years, targeting a total of one million coins. A separate Digital Asset Stockpile would manage other digital assets already in federal custody. The U.S. government already holds an estimated 328,372 Bitcoin from law enforcement seizures, including assets from the Silk Road operation and the 2022 Bitfinex hack recovery.
The legislation also guarantees that individuals retain the right to own, transfer, or self-custody digital assets without federal interference. Additionally, it mandates a study on budget-neutral acquisition strategies to explore methods for expanding reserves without raising taxes or increasing deficit spending. White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt recently hinted at a potential breakthrough tied to the administration’s Bitcoin reserve plans, while a Senate companion version from Senators Lummis and Cassidy includes similar provisions.