- Congressman Matt Van Epps co-led a invoice that may codify a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into federal regulation.
- The reserve would maintain confiscated Bitcoin and solely permit future gross sales for lowering nationwide debt.
- The proposal additionally protects self-custody rights and requires public Proof of Reserve audits each quarter.
A brand new Bitcoin-focused invoice shifting by means of Congress is beginning to attract severe consideration, not simply due to what it proposes, however due to what it says about how deeply crypto has began embedding itself into American politics and regional economies.
Consultant Matt Van Epps helped introduce the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 this week, and he framed the laws much less like a distant nationwide safety proposal and extra like a mirrored image of what he already sees occurring again house in Tennessee. Based on Van Epps, Nashville is rapidly changing into certainly one of America’s largest Bitcoin hubs, fueled by establishments like Bitcoin Park, a quickly increasing digital asset neighborhood, and the return of the annual Bitcoin convention in 2027.
For the freshman congressman representing Tennessee’s seventh District, the problem seems private. Van Epps, a West Level graduate and former fight helicopter pilot who gained his seat in a December 2025 particular election, described the invoice as an extension of the monetary innovation already going down inside his district moderately than some summary federal experiment.
The ARMA Invoice Would Formally Create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
Van Epps co-led the laws alongside Consultant Nick Begich of Alaska. The proposal, formally referred to as the American Reserve Modernization Act — or ARMA — would remodel President Trump’s March 2025 government order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into everlasting federal regulation.
That distinction issues fairly a bit.
Govt orders might be reversed by future administrations pretty simply, however codifying the reserve into statute would give it way more sturdiness and political weight shifting ahead. Beneath the proposal, the reserve would sit beneath the U.S. Treasury Division and primarily maintain Bitcoin obtained by means of federal seizures, civil penalties, and regulation enforcement forfeitures.
Importantly, the invoice argues the reserve might be constructed with out straight costing taxpayers extra cash. As an alternative of buying Bitcoin on the open market utilizing public funds, the federal government would basically repurpose confiscated BTC right into a long-term nationwide reserve asset.
And in contrast to regular authorities asset swimming pools, ARMA locations strict guidelines round how Bitcoin might ultimately be bought.
Bitcoin Reserve Would Be Used Just for Nationwide Debt Discount
Van Epps repeatedly framed the laws as a fiscal technique tied on to America’s rising debt drawback. With U.S. nationwide debt approaching $39 trillion, he described the reserve as an “important” piece of laws able to serving to stabilize long-term authorities funds.
Beneath the invoice, any future sale of Bitcoin from the reserve would solely be allowed for one function: lowering nationwide debt. The language particularly blocks the reserve from changing into a discretionary spending account for unrelated federal packages or political priorities.
That limitation seems designed to reassure Bitcoin supporters anxious about authorities misuse whereas additionally presenting the reserve as a generational balance-sheet technique moderately than a short-term political device.
The proposal additionally requires all BTC held contained in the reserve to stay untouched for a minimum of 20 years. That’s a fairly aggressive holding interval by authorities requirements, truthfully. However supporters argue Bitcoin’s mounted provide and long-term appreciation potential make it essentially completely different from conventional reserve property like gold certificates or Treasury holdings.
Van Epps even advised Bitcoin might ultimately assist “remedy main issues” dealing with the US if managed appropriately over very long time horizons.
Property Rights and Self-Custody Stay Central Themes
One other main a part of the invoice focuses on digital property rights. ARMA consists of language explicitly defending a person’s proper to personal, switch, and self-custody digital property with out authorities interference.
That piece displays the broader libertarian streak working by means of a lot of the pro-Bitcoin motion inside Congress proper now. Many lawmakers supporting crypto laws more and more body self-custody rights as monetary free speech moderately than merely funding preferences.
The invoice additionally makes an attempt to handle transparency issues by requiring quarterly public Proof of Reserve stories alongside unbiased third-party audits. These additions would create extra oversight than presently exists beneath the chief order framework alone.
The Senate Battle Might Be A lot Tougher
To date, ARMA has attracted 18 unique co-sponsors spanning 9 completely different states, displaying rising political assist for Bitcoin-related laws throughout components of Congress. Nonetheless, the Senate stays a way more troublesome hurdle.
A number of competing crypto payments are already shifting by means of Senate committees, and securing the 60 votes probably wanted for broader passage stays unsure. Regulatory disagreements round stablecoins, securities regulation, and digital asset oversight proceed dividing lawmakers whilst Bitcoin itself beneficial properties extra institutional acceptance.
However no matter whether or not ARMA passes in its present kind, the larger sign feels more and more clear: Bitcoin is not sitting outdoors the American political dialog. It’s changing into a part of it.
And lawmakers from locations like Nashville appear decided to guarantee that development continues accelerating.
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