AIP launches fellowship program offering hands-on experience in digital asset policy on Capitol Hill

The American Innovation Project (AIP), a US nonprofit, is launching a fellowship program that will give young talent interested in digital asset policy the opportunity to work in the US Congress. As discussions over digital asset regulatory legislation in Washington gain momentum, the program aims to cultivate talent that can bridge policy practice and technical understanding.

According to The Block on the 27th (local time), AIP said it is starting a new fellowship program for recent graduates and those expected to graduate in spring 2026. Selected participants will work in congressional offices, gaining exposure to legislative debates and policy work related to digital assets.

Allie Page, AIP’s executive director, said in a statement, “Policymakers are making decisions that will shape America’s technological leadership for decades,” adding that “in this process, the role of people who understand how the technology and systems work is crucial.”

The program comes as discussions on digital asset regulation in Congress have advanced rapidly. Over the past year, Congress has pursued legislation to divide oversight authority for the digital asset industry between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Last summer, the House Financial Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee, followed by the full House, passed the Clarity Act, with some Democrats also joining.

In the Senate, a digital asset market structure bill is awaiting a vote in the Agriculture Committee, while the Banking Committee has yet to set a new hearing schedule after Coinbase withdrew its support earlier this month. AIP said that in this environment, the need to raise understanding of digital assets and emerging technologies within Congress is growing.

AIP fellows will complete a multi-week online training course in spring 2026 covering digital assets, artificial intelligence, biotech, and defense technologies, and then work for one year in offices of members affiliated with the House Financial Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee. Participants will receive a stipend to support their activities, and the program will be fully funded by AIP.

AIP was launched in August last year with the goal of improving policy understanding across emerging technologies, including digital assets and AI. AIP is currently backed by Kraken, Coinbase, the National Cryptocurrency Association, Paradigm, the Solana Policy Institute, and Digital Currency Group (DCG), with DCG reportedly contributing $1 million.