Michelle Bowman, Vice Chair for Supervision at the Federal Reserve, has proposed allowing Fed staff to hold small amounts of cryptocurrency as a means to better understand and regulate this technology. Her argument hinges on real-world experience being critical for developing a supervisory framework for digital asset issuers, stating that current restrictions impede expertise acquisition from a practical standpoint. She likened the situation to learning a sport from someone who hasn’t practiced it themselves. The proposed change is a response to concerns surrounding conflicts of interest while aiming to foster talent acquisition and practical understanding within the Fed. Bowman’s initiative coincides with a broader movement towards greater transparency in digital assets, as seen in recent regulatory changes and the launch of non-profit initiatives like the American Innovation Project which aims to bridge the gap between policymakers and the digital asset industry.