Blockchain Support Bill Passes Vote in US Congress

The US House of Representatives has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a national technology innovation policy that includes supportive language for digital currencies and blockchain technology.

Introduced

in July, the resolution calls on the US government to craft a national policy for technology, with specific mentions for digital currencies and blockchain. The bill was written by Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger, with Representative Tony Cardenas from California sponsoring.

The resolution passed by a voice vote following statements from backers late this afternoon. Though non-binding, the measure is perhaps the most significant to emerge from Congress to date on the subject of digital currencies and blockchain tech.

The resolution emerged months after the House Committee on Energy and Commerce discussed the technology, and comments from supporters on the debate floor indicated that there was genuine interest in the issue among House members.

Rep. Michael Burgess, a Republican from Texas, said at the hearing:

"There’s no doubt that blockchain innovations are on the cutting edge today."

What remains to be seen is whether the next session of Congress, which will meet after this November's US elections, will take up a more substantive bill focused specifically on bitcoin and blockchain.

However, the bipartisan nature of today's resolution suggests that a bill could be put forward in the next year in either the House or the Senate.

Hat tip to Coin Center

House of Representatives image via Shutterstock

Correction: This article has been updated that Rep. Adam Kinzinger represents Illinois, not Indiana, in the US House of Representatives.