; Whereas blockchain has the potential to provide widespread, mainstream improvements in digital services; Whereas because the risks and challenges of blockchain are not yet known, more research and development is necessary; Whereas blockchain has many potential applications, including— (1) production and peer-to-peer exchange of environmentally friendly energy and scalability and flexibility for energy plant operators, suppliers, and consumers; (2) improvements in the transportation sector, including with respect to mobility and logistics, registration and administration of vehicles, verification of driving distances, smart insurance, and charging of electronic vehicles; (3) improvements in the healthcare sector, including improved reporting on clinical trials, and digital data exchange controlled by patients; (4) supply chain improvements, including improved shipment tracking and monitoring, transparency, and compliance with legal and ethical standards; (5) improvements in education including degree verification, encrypted educational certifications, and credit transfer mechanisms; and (6) assistance in protecting control of creative content by copyright holders and ensuring copyright holders are compensated for use of the content; Whereas blockchain can allow users to control information about themselves shared on the internet, choosing the appropriate degree of transparency for a particular application; Whereas blockchain can support the development of a new architecture for digital identities; Whereas because digital identities are imperative to the future, best practices should be established to ensure that data is secure; Whereas blockchain is protected by cryptography that replaces third-party intermediaries, validating, safeguarding, and preserving transactions; Whereas public trust in blockchain is improved by the development and use of open-source protocols and platforms