Rep. Matt Van Epps co-led the American Reserve Modernization Act on May 22, 2026, legislation designed to convert President Trump’s March 2025 executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into permanent statutory law. The bill would remove the reserve from the discretion of future administrations and embed it into the federal code, making reversal significantly more difficult.
How the Reserve Would Work
The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve would be housed at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and funded through Bitcoin seized via federal law enforcement forfeitures and civil penalties, requiring no direct appropriation from taxpayers. The reserve mandates a minimum 20-year holding period, with any future sales restricted exclusively to reducing the national debt. The bill includes property rights protections for individual digital asset ownership and self-custody—a direct signal to crypto holders that the legislation does not target private holdings. Quarterly Proof of Reserve reports and independent third-party audits would provide transparency and prevent undisclosed liquidation.
Congressional Coalition Builds Around Codification
Van Epps and Alaska Rep. Nick Begich introduced ARMA with 18 original co-sponsors spanning 9 states, establishing a bipartisan foundation for a Bitcoin-focused legislative bloc in Congress. Van Epps, a West Point graduate and former combat helicopter pilot elected in a December 2025 special election to represent Tennessee’s 7th District, framed the bill as both fiscal necessity and economic opportunity. “With a national debt of $39 trillion, this is an essential piece of legislation,” Van Epps stated, linking Bitcoin accumulation directly to debt management strategy. He emphasized Nashville’s role: “Nashville is one of the nation’s leading Bitcoin hubs. Supporting this bill means supporting the financial innovation taking place in my district.”
Senate Passage Uncertain Amid Competing Bills
The path to Senate passage remains unclear, with competing crypto legislation already moving through committee. ARMA requires 60 Senate votes to advance under standard filibuster rules, a threshold that demands sustained cross-party support. The 18 House co-sponsors demonstrate willingness, but Senate appetite for a permanent Bitcoin reserve—particularly one that locks in holdings for two decades—has not been tested. The bill’s inclusion of custody and property rights language suggests drafters anticipate resistance from privacy advocates and regulatory hawks who view centralized government Bitcoin holdings as contradictory to decentralization principles.
What’s Next
The legislation faces Senate committee review with no confirmed timeline for floor consideration. Nashville is scheduled to host a Bitcoin conference in 2027, potentially creating political momentum for passage if the bill stalls. The strategic question remains whether Republicans can sustain a unified position on permanent Bitcoin holdings as macro conditions shift and competing fiscal priorities emerge.
