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The American Innovation Project has launched a new fellowship aimed at placing crypto-literate graduates on Capitol Hill as Congress advances legislation to regulate the digital asset industry.
The programme, funded by Coinbase and a16z, is designed for recent college graduates or students finishing their degrees in spring 2026, the nonprofit said.
“Policymakers are making decisions today that will shape America's technological leadership for decades, and it is critical that they are equipped with staff intimately familiar with how these systems and technologies work,”
Said American Innovation Project executive director Allie Page.
The fellowship launch comes as US lawmakers accelerate efforts to split crypto regulatory oversight between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The House has already passed the Clarity Act with bipartisan support, while similar market structure legislation is advancing through Senate committees after recent delays.
According to the nonprofit, fellows will complete a multi-week virtual curriculum on emerging technologies before undertaking year-long paid placements with congressional offices from both major political parties.
Launched in August, the American Innovation Project is backed by several crypto groups including Kraken, Paradigm and Digital Currency Group, which contributed $1 million in seed funding.