Austin, Texas Mayor Steve Adler has fully embraced the discovery of what blockchain technology and crypto payments can bring to his city by proposing two new initiatives.
The first initiative aims to ensure that the fourth-largest city in Texas promotes the benefits of blockchain technologies and “promotes equality, diversity, accessibility and inclusion” in the technology ecosystem. To that end, May Adler commissioned the city manager to explore how the city can use Web3 and blockchain in 20 areas, from smart contracts, supply chain management and insurance to art, media, fundraising and identity verification.
“The city manager should ensure that the city helps create an environment within city government and in the community at large that supports the creation and development of new technologies, including but not limited to blockchain and other Web3-related technologies, protocols and applications.”
Mayor Adler’s second initiative orders the city manager to conduct a “fact-finding” on how the city might adopt Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrency-related policies. Through these efforts, Mayor Adler appears to be looking to find ways for Austin residents to legally pay their bills with crypto.
Austin is excited to support the companies and innovations that will make the promises of Web3, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology a reality. Thanks to @MK6ATX for its resolution and @RaffiSapire† @consensus2022† @JoshuaBaerand @PrestonLJ2 for their leadership! #SXSW pic.twitter.com/HdmuGA0l2Y
— Mayor Adler | Get vaccinated! (@mayorAdler) March 11, 2022
Under this initiative, the city manager must find ways to allow “the adoption of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as payment for city taxes, fees and fines” as the first set of policies to watch.
The success of the two initiatives will be based on the effect that new applications have on the daily lives of Austin residents. The proposals will be voted on in the city council on March 24.
Austin City Council has been considering technological integrations with blockchain since at least 2020, when a proposal was made to use smart contracts for the MyPass identity verification protocol.
Austin is competing with Miami, New York City and the state of Colorado in rapidly expanding exploration efforts and proposed implementation of policies related to cryptocurrency. Miami and New York have already launched their own citywide coin projects through City Coin on the Stacks layer-1 blockchain, while Austin’s own program is still under development.
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Philadelphia has expressed interest in joining the City Coins program, while Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a Feb. 15 interview that the state will accept crypto for “state tax-related purposes”. Later, he expects to accept crypto for a wider range of government services.