MITRE’s Response to the OSTP RFI Supporting a National Digital Assets R&D Agenda

What’s the issue?  Recognizing the importance of responsible innovation in digital assets, President Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 14067, which outlined the first whole-of-government approach to digital assets. Pursuant to this E.O., OSTP published Technical Evaluation for a U.S. CBDC System, which highlighted the importance of solving key open questions related to digital assets. OSTP found that there were several important and open questions related to digital assets R&D, which could benefit from increased attention and support. They established a Fast Track Action Committee within the National Science and Technology Council to develop a National Digital Assets R&D Agenda, and issued several questions to gather data & insights on which to craft the Agenda.

What did we do? The Center for Data-Driven Policy led a cross-MITRE analysis of OSTP’s posed questions, seeking to uncover data and evidence (from our work in the public interest) that would help the White House understand opportunities and develop plans that are evidence-based, actionable, and effective.

What did we find? MITRE supports the government’s efforts in developing a National Digital Assets R&D Agenda to drive important research on key digital asset technology topics. We recommend this Agenda focus not only on advancing the state of the art but also on providing data and experiences in maximizing opportunities or mitigating risks that can guide future operational and policy decisions in a data-driven manner. MITRE also recommends developing an organizing taxonomy that establishes a common vernacular and will aid in increasing meaning and control as new technologies are introduced. Finally, MITRE provided evidence-based answers to the technical questions posed.