The American Innovation Project (AIP) has added a new expert to support lawmaking in the field of digital assets and blockchain. The aim of AIP, which operates in policy development for digital assets, is to contribute to the sound and up-to-date preparation of legal regulations in this field in the USA.
New names in the congress team
In the statement made by AIP, it was reported that Jacob Smagula, who will graduate from Claremont McKenna College in 2026, will join the team of New York Representative Ritchie Torres from the Democratic Party. Smagula is a name with experience in cryptocurrency policies and industry relations. Smagula, who worked in the public relations team of Bitcoin miner Marathon Digital, currently works in the policy department of the decentralized finance education fund.
Smagula has worked closely with members of Congress before. Internships with Representative Jake Auchincloss and Senator Angus King have increased his experience of processes within the US Congress.
Politics and technology meet
Appointed under AIP’s Policy Innovation Fellowship, Smagula will take part in a two-phase program. The main purpose of this program is to provide teams in the US Congress with direct experience with new technologies and to facilitate their adaptation to the innovations brought by technology in the law preparation processes.
AIP also selected Hugo Swangstu, a 2025 graduate of the University of Washington, as a scholar. Swangstu previously interned with Reps. Adam Smith and Ritchie Torres. He will now serve on Rep. Shomari Figures’ team in Washington.
Emphasis on technology literacy
Ritchie Torres said, “The new generation of policymakers needs to understand these technologies that transform the economy, national security and daily life.”
Representative Shomari Figures also emphasized the importance of policy makers being prepared and knowledgeable in the face of these technological developments. According to him, in a period where technology is rapidly advancing, Congress members must have a comprehensive understanding in order to create accurate and sound technology policy.
AIP Director Allie Page stated that the organization focuses on including young experts who are knowledgeable in the process, especially in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. Page pointed out that the contributions brought by such capabilities are important in determining the US’s international role in new technologies.
AIP was founded in August 2025 with support from cryptocurrency venture capital firm Digital Currency Group and Cedar Innovation Foundation. Important organizations such as Coinbase, Kraken, Andreessen Horowitz, National Cryptocurrency Association, Paradigm, Solana Policy Institute, Stand With Crypto and Uniswap Labs, which stand out in the decentralized finance and blockchain ecosystem, are among those supporting AIP.
