Technical corrections only. The changes reflect the bill's progression from being introduced to being reported by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, including updates to the legislative status, calendar number, and report number. No substantive policy changes were made to the bill text.
Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
- Committees
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (primary), Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
- Last action
- Oct 21, 2025
Bottom line
The bill aims to establish federal leadership and coordination under the Department of Commerce to advance the deployment, security, and competitiveness of blockchain technology in the United States through an advisory committee and best practices development.
What it actually does
This bill designates the Secretary of Commerce as the principal advisor to the President on blockchain technology and related applications. It mandates the establishment of a National Blockchain Deployment Advisory Committee, composed of federal and non-governmental experts, to provide recommendations and promote U.S. leadership in the field. Additionally, the Secretary is tasked with facilitating the ongoing development of best practices for the deployment of blockchain technology, focusing on capabilities, interoperability, cybersecurity, and value quantification.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this legislation is critical for solidifying the United States' position as a global leader in emerging technologies like blockchain. They contend that a coordinated federal strategy, informed by diverse industry and academic expertise, is essential to foster innovation, enhance national security, improve government efficiency, and ensure the secure and widespread adoption of distributed ledger technologies across various economic sectors.
Opponents contend
Critics might express concerns that establishing another federal advisory committee could lead to bureaucratic inefficiencies and slow decision-making, potentially hindering the rapid pace of technological innovation. Some may also argue that excessive government involvement, even in an advisory capacity, could inadvertently lead to regulatory overreach or stifle organic market-driven development in the blockchain space.
The bill is concise and well-structured, allowing for a thorough understanding of its provisions within a short reading time.
Section 3(a)
Secretary of Commerce as Principal Advisor on Blockchain
This provision designates the Secretary of Commerce as the primary advisor to the President on policies related to the deployment, use, application, and competitiveness of blockchain technology, applications built on it, tokens, and tokenization. This centralizes federal leadership on this emerging technology within the Department of Commerce.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this ensures a focused and expert-led approach to blockchain policy at the highest levels of government, preventing fragmentation and promoting a coherent national strategy for technological advancement.
Critics contend
Some might argue that centralizing this role could limit diverse perspectives or create a single point of failure for innovation if the Secretary's office lacks broad expertise or becomes overly bureaucratic.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the need for centralized leadership and coordination in a complex technological field with the potential risk of limiting diverse input or agility.
Section 3(c)
Establishment of National Blockchain Deployment Advisory Committee
This section mandates the Secretary of Commerce to establish the 'National Blockchain Deployment Advisory Committee' within 180 days of the Act's enactment. The committee will comprise the Secretary, representatives from relevant federal agencies, and various non-governmental experts from industry, academia, non-profits, and cybersecurity, among others. Its purpose is to support blockchain adoption, and it is set to terminate after 7 years.
Section 3(d)
Development of Blockchain Best Practices
The Secretary of Commerce is required to continuously facilitate and support the development of a compendium of identified or recommended guidelines or best practices for deploying blockchain technology, applications, tokens, and tokenization. These practices are intended to advance capabilities, support interoperability, reduce cybersecurity risks, and quantify the value and cost savings associated with blockchain adoption.
This subsection explicitly states that nothing in the Act may be construed to require a private entity to share information with the Secretary, request assistance, implement suggested measures, or adopt the developed best practices.
Section 3(f)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to clarify the scope and limits of government authority, ensuring the bill is not interpreted as a mandate for private entities. It aims to promote voluntary collaboration rather than forced compliance.
Case for: This provision ensures that the government's role remains advisory and facilitative, respecting private sector autonomy and avoiding unintended regulatory burdens. It encourages voluntary engagement and innovation.
Case against: Some might argue that without a stronger incentive or mandate for private sector engagement, the 'best practices' might not be widely adopted, limiting the bill's overall effectiveness in standardizing and securing blockchain deployment across the industry.
Estimated impact: Prevents the bill from becoming a regulatory burden on the private sector, potentially influencing the pace and nature of voluntary adoption of federal guidelines and recommendations.