A new nonprofit organization, the Tennessee Bitcoin Alliance (TNBTC), has been formed to accelerate bitcoin adoption across Tennessee through coordinated public-education programs and a focused legislative agenda. Its stated mission is to integrate bitcoin with commercial activity in the state.
The organization was founded by seasoned technologists, entrepreneurs and political activists and aims to translate Tennessee’s favorable energy mix and business climate into long-term leadership in the adoption of bitcoin. The TNBTC launched last month with an in-person event in Franklin, Tennessee, with several state lawmakers and policy specialists attending.
Education First: Workshops and Merchant Integration
TNBTC will begin rolling out statewide workshops this fall. Sessions for households will cover practical topics such as acquiring, securing and spending bitcoin, while merchant-oriented programs will provide hands-on guidance for integrating Lightning-enabled point-of-sale systems. Additional free materials and bitcoin education curricula are planned for educators, civic groups and local officials to ensure a common understanding of Bitcoin’s technical fundamentals and economic implications.
A Legislative Roadmap for 2026
On the policy front, the alliance is circulating draft language for the 2026 General Assembly that would affirm every resident’s right to self-custody, recognize bitcoin node operation as constitutionally protected speech, permit contracts to be settled in bitcoin without adverse tax treatment and distinguish bitcoin from other digital assets in state code.
“Tennessee already combines a top-ten freedom ranking, abundant low-cost nuclear power, and a bipartisan appetite for innovation,” said Dave Birnbaum, TNBTC’s president and co-founder. “Our goal is to combine those advantages with bitcoin and position our state for rapid economic growth.”
Tennessee Bitcoin: Leveraging Energy and Industry Advantages
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s grid, which is nearly half nuclear, offers miners and data center operators a stable, low-carbon power source. The state also hosts existing high-performance computing infrastructure, from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the xAI facilities in Memphis. According to the Coinbits Bitcoin Index, which aggregates tax policy, energy pricing, regulatory climate and adoption metrics, Tennessee currently ranks fifth nationwide for Bitcoin friendliness. TNBTC believes it can build upon this momentum.
“From Oak Ridge’s Frontier super-computer to FedEx’s global logistics hub, Tennessee has a history of converting frontier technology into real jobs,” said Steve Giraud, TNBTC vice-president and co-founder. “Bitcoin is the next frontier, and this initiative will make sure that the economic opportunity that bitcoin affords can reach every county in the state.”
Funding and Participation
TNBTC is supported entirely by individual and corporate donations. Membership information, program schedules and volunteer opportunities are available at tnbitcoinalliance.org. The organization’s first county-level meetups are slated for August, with pilot workshops targeting public-school educators and small-business owners.
If successful, the Tennessee Bitcoin Alliance could provide a replicable framework for state-level Bitcoin adoption rooted in practical education and clear statutory protections, cementing the Volunteer State’s reputation as a leading jurisdiction for innovative technologies that advance personal liberty.
This post Tennessee Bitcoin Alliance to Position the Volunteer State at the Center of America’s Bitcoin Revolution first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Dave Birnbaum.