The administration of US President Joe Biden continues to craft its National Digital Asset Research and Development Agenda. In a request for information (RFI) dated January 26 and preview Per the Federal Register, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) invites comments to help identify agenda priorities. Individuals and organizations may submit comments of no more than ten pages by March 23.
The White House announced the creation of the agenda in September among a host of next steps after the unveiling of the “first” Comprehensive Framework for Responsible Digital Asset Development. As such, the new agenda is part of the spate of cryptocurrency-related research activity initiated by the President’s Executive Order (EO) on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets issued in March.
Related: Regulators and Industry Leaders React to Biden’s Executive Order on Crypto
The RFI said the agenda sought to “shape a whole-of-government effort” to develop digital assets and distributed ledger technology. It was also described as a means to “continue to support research that translates technological advances into market-ready products” and “advance fundamental research.” He declared:
“Research and development (R&D) in this space has often been carried out in a fragmented manner, with limited consideration of the broader implications, applications, and downside risks of underlying innovations. […] A more comprehensive R&D approach would provide concrete areas of focus to achieve a holistic vision of a digital asset ecosystem that incorporates democratic values and other key priorities.”
A blockchain specialist position was added to the OSTP with the passage of the Chips and Science Act in August. The office examined and reported on the effects of digital assets on the environment as part of its EO mandate and prepared a survey of the central bank’s digital currency design options as part of the ongoing and so far inconclusive consideration. of one US digital dollar.
1/ Some points of context on the new White House Comprehensive Framework for the Responsible Development of Digital Assets that was released this morning. (I’ll share later…) Policy making is a process. It is complicated, slow and difficult work. But it matters. And it is moving.
—Tomicah Tillemann (@TomicahTD) September 16, 2022
Reaction to Biden’s comprehensive framework ranged from lukewarm praise to outright disappointment.
