The Problem

Decentralized finance plays a growing and important role in the security of American families by providing investment and commerce opportunities that avoid the delays, additional costs, and barriers to access associated with intermediary financial institutions.

The use of blockchain technology in finance is hardly new. Just over one in 10 Americans traded cryptocurrency in 2020 — totaling more than half of all Americans who traded securities in the same year. However, the maturation of cryptocurrency and ongoing expansion of uses for the blockchain present unique opportunities for American businesses and retail investors to create jobs, secure personal finances, and preserve the United States’ status as a world leader in finance in the global economy.

Today, blockchain technology is crossing the threshold of financial legitimacy in real-time, and Washington is taking notice. In 2021 alone, Congress introduced 35 bills on cryptocurrency policy.

Policy discussions are moving quickly, often without focus on the social and economic benefits of cryptocurrency for working families or a complete understanding of the technology’s potential. However, blockchain technology’s potential for everyday Americans should be a front and center focus of policy discussions.

Policy Solutions

Tools on the blockchain can enable increased access for the unbanked and underbanked, prevent delays in transactions so that Americans have more autonomy in their financial decisions, and provide decentralized security to protect their hard-earned money.

They also provide the opportunity for new, innovative business models that utilize user support and input in exchange for cryptocurrency to develop otherwise inaccessible capabilities to smaller businesses that can be harnessed for a wide range of industrial purposes. This opens up new and unique opportunities for Americans to create additional sources of income for themselves while fueling new business models for startups and established businesses alike.

As cryptocurrency continues to grow in popularity as an emerging medium for investing, the related development of Web3 using blockchain technology represents a foundational shift for the future of e-commerce and consumer protections in America. Policy surrounding this emerging industry must delicately balance the need to protect the financial security of Americans while also ensuring that innovation is not stifled or sent overseas.

Humanity Forward is looking forward to working with partner organizations to comprehensively educate policymakers about blockchain technology and to study the socio-economic benefits these emerging technologies can provide to communities and families in need.