The document submitted to the US House of Representatives urges the state to develop “a national policy for technology” that would include blockchain and digital currencies.

The authors of the resolution, congressmen Adam Kinzinger (Republican, Indiana) and Tony Cardenas (Democrat, California), believe that “alternative non-fiat currencies” are there to replace the “decades-old payment technology” used by financial institutions. The resolution was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, CoinDesk reports.

“The US should develop a national policy to encourage the development of tools for consumers to learn and protect their assets in a way that maximizes the promise customized, connected devices hold to empower consumers, foster future economic growth, create new commerce and new markets.”

Cardenas and Kinzinger note that financial technologies create new opportunities “for 24.8 mln families with difficult access to financial services.”

The resolution also calls on the US government to promote alternative technologies that “support transparency, security and authentication,” and urges innovators to develop technologies that support consumer goods trade.

The document was welcomed by many proponents of the new technology, including Jerry Brito, executive director of the non-profit Coin Center. “The proposed House Resolution from Rep Kinzinger shows that many in Congress understand that the federal government should adopt policies that encourage blockchain innovations to flourish,” he said.

In March 2016, the US Congress held a hearing on digital currency and the blockchain technology initiated by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The session entitled “Disrupter Series: Digital Currency and Blockchain” brought together Jerry Brito, CEO at Coin Center, Matthew Roszak, Chairman at Chamber of Digital Commerce, Paul Snow, Chief Architect at Factom, Juan Suarez, Counsel at Coinbase and other experts in the field. The IT giant IBM was represented by Jerry Cuomo, Vice President of Blockchain Technologies.

The participants discussed possible applications of the blockchain technology and their impact on consumers, as well as the regulatory environment for bitcoin.

Meanwhile recently, in advance of her nomination as a US presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton promised state backing for innovative technologies including blockchain in her Initiative on Technology and Innovation programme.

Ludmila Brus