It's been a big month for bitcoin — both in Washington and right here in Nashville:

• Our new tool shows you how much richer our state would have been if prudent bitcoin investments were made.

• Tennessee's bitcoin reserve bill advancing in the House and Senate.

• The SEC finally put in writing what we've been saying all along.

• Exciting local events focused on bitcoin in healthcare and AI.

Let's get into it.

🏛️ New Tool: Bitcoin or Budget Waste?

We built something fun – a tool that takes real Tennessee budget disasters, sourced from the Comptroller, the Beacon Center, and investigative reporters, and shows you what that money would be worth today if the state had bought bitcoin instead.

$46,000 on a state logo that took nine months? That'd be $17 million in bitcoin today.

$96 million in unemployment checks sent to prisoners and dead people? The real cost was $36 billion.

Swipe through them all and watch the math do the talking.

Try it now: shouldabeenbitcoin.com

📡 Events

The Case for Bitcoin in Healthcare

There’s a case for bitcoin in every industry. If you work in health or know someone who does, this is a conversation worth having. The Case for Bitcoin in Healthcare is a one-day event featuring seminars and networking opportunities. With Tennessee a leading state for both bitcoin and healthcare, you won’t want to miss this.

Join the waitlist

Claws & Coffee

A casual monthly gathering at The AI Freedom Lab at Bitcoin Park focused on AI, automation, and agent setups. Bring your laptop, grab some cold brew, and see what people are building with open source AI tools. Tables and TV displays are set up for collaboration.

Claws and Coffee is a monthly event that is held the last Saturday of each month. RSVP here.

☕ News

Tennessee's Bitcoin Reserve Bill Advances to Finance Committee

TNBTC Continues to Advocate & Educate Lawmakers.

SB2639, the Tennessee Bitcoin Reserve Act, has been referred to the Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee. The bill would create a fund at the state level that can hold bitcoin, if and when funds are appropriated by the General Assembly. If signed into law, it would take effect July 1, 2026. Tennessee joins 23 other states in pursuing a strategic reserve, including Texas, Missouri, and West Virginia.

SEC Says It Loud: Bitcoin Is a Commodity, Not a Security

The debate is finally over.

The SEC and CFTC issued a joint 68-page interpretation on March 17 explicitly classifying bitcoin, along with 15 other digital assets, as a "digital commodity," not a security. Staking, mining, and airdrops are now classified outside securities law. This is the regulatory clarity the industry has been asking for since forever. For bitcoiners, it's validation. For builders, it's a green light.

Bitcoin As A Store of Value During Crisis

Uncertainty in Iran demonstrates one of the key characteristics of bitcoin.

Early in the Iran conflict, reports showed bitcoin leaving exchanges at a record pace – presumably being taken into self-custody. Now reports show that gold is trading at a discount in the beleaguered country, likely because even modest amounts are difficult, if not outright dangerous, to travel with. Meanwhile, bitcoin offers owners transportability of any amount of wealth by simply memorizing 12 words. The distinction is clear.

Like what you see?

Our volunteers run on coffee, hot chicken, and the occasional scotch, but TNBTC itself runs on donations. If we’re providing you value, we ask you consider throwing something in the tip jar. Even small amounts help keep the lights on!

📜 The Bitcoin List

“The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that's required to make it work.” — Satoshi Nakamoto

We’re here to help Tennesseeans like you in your bitcoin journey by providing a list of achievable steps you can take towards financial freedom.

This Month’s Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It:

Buy a small amount of bitcoin and transfer it to the wallet you set up last month. You don't need to go big. Start with $5, $10, or whatever you're comfortable with. Use an exchange like River, Strike, or Cash App to convert fiat to bitcoin, then withdraw it to your own wallet. When you hit "send" and watch that transaction confirm, you'll understand something no article can teach you: you know what it feels like to hold a bearer asset with no counterparty – no third party holding it, or approving its use. That's the whole point.

Follow us on X

Want to keep up with all we do? Give us a follow at @TennesseeBTC.

Donations are rocket fuel! 🚀

Donations run everything we do, like developing the upcoming Tennessee Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill. Want Tennessee to move faster into a bitcoin fueled future? Send some holiday love our way. We thank you in advance for your support!

If you like this content, forward it to three of your friends. When bitcoin helps them become financially free, they just might buy you a beer.

Was this emailed forwarded to you? Sign up here.