Tampa Bay Times: Here’s how the U.S. can work with Bitcoin and blockchain for consumers

Now that President Donald Trump has vowed to make “America the crypto capital” and just announced plans to create a “Crypto Strategic Reserve,” it’s worth reviewing exactly what Bitcoin and cryptoassets are all about.

Widely misunderstood, blockchain technology and cryptoassets are often wrongly associated with anarchy and upheaval. In reality, the blockchain community is a haven for tech nerds who believe they are solving important problems. Given sensible government policy, this brilliant community could deliver meaningful value for the broader economy. But poor policy could let fraudulent activity proliferate.

I research and teach cryptoeconomics, and I can tell you that blockchain technology is coming fast and hard. There are many cautions, but there is also much opportunity.