Unlocking the Future: Exploring the National DigiFoundry’s Collaborative Journey

Discover the evolution of blockchain technology and its seamless integration into traditional business models with insights from Kevin Jackson, Operations Lead at the National DigiFoundry. Follow his journey in pioneering NDF’s government and business collaborations, empowered by Constellation Network’s infrastructure.

Kevin Jackson

Kevin Jackson, Operations Lead at National DigiFoundry, started his diverse career journey as a carrier pilot in the military, flying E-2C Hawkeyes and working on command and control logistics for 15 years after graduating from the Naval Academy. Transitioning to the Navy Space Technology Program, he was involved in launching spy satellites and early internet utilization for military operations. Post-military, he worked with NASA on payload processing, which sparked his interest in leveraging the internet for business. This led him to roles at both JPMorgan Chase and IBM.

His career then evolved into cloud computing, big data analytics, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, particularly in serving the intelligence community. Kevin’s expertise extended to consulting for a digital currency company, focusing on cryptocurrency security practices and architectures. He was engaged with Forward Edge-AI, working on secure space-based communications, and is now part of the National Digital Foundry, exploring various applications of digital assets in collaboration with the National Science Foundation.

We were delighted to also have Benjamin Diggles, Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Constellation Network, and Ben Jorgensen, CEO of Constellation Labs, on our podcast to delve into their collaboration with the NDF. Keep reading for exciting updates!

National DigiFoundry

The National DigiFoundry (NDF) stands as a collaborative initiative geared towards driving ongoing innovation within the digital asset domain, aiming to tackle an array of risks and fraudulent activities. Through fostering partnerships between public and private entities, it seeks to create an environment conducive to addressing societal needs and interests, with a focus on democratizing financial systems and diminishing inequalities. Being a recipient of a National Science Foundation grant, the NDF strives to engage a diverse array of stakeholders in exploring global standards and optimal practices for digital asset use and exchange, thus advancing its mission of inclusivity.

National DigiFoundry Workgroups

At the heart of the NDF’s operations lie its workgroups, which serve as the foundation for its endeavors and value creation. Participation in these workgroups not only enhances one’s NDF experience but also facilitates the sharing of expertise across a global community. To partake in these workgroups, your NDF membership and 2,500 DigiTokens per group are prerequisites, with your membership awaiting you through a straightforward application process. 

The funding avenues for NDF workgroups encompass various paths, including direct funding proposals, government or commercial contracts or grants, and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts facilitated through government solicitations, all of which are instrumental in supporting the NDF’s collaborative initiatives.

The NDT Token

The National DigiToken (NDT) serves as the primary digital asset within the National DigiFoundry, functioning as the platform’s economic engine and internal currency for transaction fees and participation in NDF activities. Not traded on the open market, NDT is used operationally as an internal funding mechanism for resourcing working groups. Your membership enables you to earn it through various means such as volunteer work or investments into the DAO, and you can exchange 2,500 NDT for lifetime access to an online professional certification in blockchain technology.

Additionally, every member will receive Constellation’s Stargazer Wallet to oversee their National DigiTokens. The tokens are not available for trading on public markets or featured on any token exchange platforms. Stargazer is compatible across various devices, offering three different versions, and it is also interoperable with the Ethereum Network. Assistance with setup and configuration will be provided during the onboarding process for those who already possess a crypto wallet.

The evolution of The National DigiFoundry

The progression of the internet

Kevin started off our podcast by reflecting on past debates surrounding the internet’s purpose, recalling a time when it was primarily viewed as a platform for academic discourse rather than business. He discussed how the internet originally served as a network between universities for research, highlighting the early skepticism about commercializing it. Notably, as discussions evolved, it became apparent that commerce played a significant role in shaping society, prompting inquiries into the internet’s potential value and its impact on traditional business models. 

These discussions also explored the dynamics of government-citizen interactions and the fusion of academia, government, and business within the digital realm, an area where the National DigiFoundry is currently providing assistance. Discussing the transition from physical to digital assets in global society, Kevin portrayed the evolution of the internet as a natural progression reflecting societal needs and expectations, particularly in terms of business, commerce, and industry.

The evolution of a digital society

Jackson commented on the evolution of digital society and the challenges posed by the adoption of digital currency, noting that technological advancements often outpace the efforts to mitigate associated risks. While there are risks to cryptocurrencies, the transformative capabilities in global commerce are something to be recognized. 

President Biden’s executive order in March 2022 recognized the value of distributed ledger technology beyond Bitcoin, aiming to develop a comprehensive approach to digital assets across various industries. Notably, the green and space industries also emphasized the importance of digital currency in advancing their respective agendas.

Furthermore, the government’s response also included the establishment of the Fast-Track Action Committee (FTAC) and the National Science Foundation’s involvement in promoting collaboration and research. This led to the creation of a Digital Asset Collaboration Hub (DACH), aimed at fostering public-private partnerships to address risks and fraud while promoting innovation. 

The National DigiFoundry, in collaboration with the University of Texas at San Antonio, successfully secured a grant to establish an inclusive environment that democratizes digital financial systems and expands the use of distributed ledger technologies. Their overarching goal is to reduce knowledge differentials and inequities by encouraging proactive engagement with emerging technologies.

The evolution of The National DigiFoundry

Kevin recounted the inception of their project, which was spurred by the President’s directive for all government agencies to explore digital assets, leading the organization to secure a grant. Leveraging their connections with IBM and Microsoft, who were selected as cloud service providers, was a natural choice due to their familiarity with these companies and their cloud infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of being technology-agnostic and ensuring compatibility with existing government systems to facilitate experimentation and adoption.

To address legal and regulatory concerns, the National DigiFoundry developed a distributed autonomous organization (DAO) with a private token, ensuring compliance with evolving laws. The Constellation Network was chosen for its cloud-agnostic infrastructure, particularly its work with the US Defense Department and Air Force. 

Additionally, interoperability with older technologies was achieved through the integration of Hyperledger Firefly, enabling seamless transition and upgrading of business models. The project garnered interest from various entities, including the Space Force and the Department of Treasury, aligning with their goals of fostering resilience and digital economies. With over 100 members and partnerships with organizations like the Blockchain Academy and BioCrowd, he expressed optimism about the project’s trajectory and its role in driving innovation and education in the digital asset space.

The Constellation Network & NDF collaboration

We were interested to know more about Constellation’s involvement in the National DigiFoundry initiative and how it aligns with their existing infrastructure and technology, particularly considering their past work with government entities such as the Department of Defense. Specifically, we wanted to know how Constellation’s capabilities within their Stargazer wallet and Metagraph technology naturally complement the goals of the National DigiFoundry.

Benjamin Diggles Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Constellation Network, stated they had been working with the DOD for five years, so they were positioned to be a suitable partner for the NDF. He emphasized the importance of addressing negative perceptions associated with blockchain and digital currencies through education, aligning with NDF’s core pillars. Overall, Constellations’ experience with the DOD, Treasury, and NSF allowed them to demonstrate the practical applications of tools like the Stargazer wallet, making concepts more tangible for stakeholders.

Moreover, he highlighted the value of their collaboration with the NDF in exposing a broader audience to Constellation’s tools and capabilities. While recognizing the diversity of blockchain solutions, Constellation advocated for collaboration rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Benjamin also noted his enthusiasm for the growing adoption of Constellation’s technology, exemplified by NASA’s use of the Stargazer wallet, and he envisions their technology as imperative in catalyzing innovation within the digital asset space.

Furthermore, Constellation has assisted companies interested in developing on their metagraph by providing support to get them set up on their chosen cloud provider. They also have successfully guided companies through proof of concept development. The blend of continued selling, demos, and live production solutions are still emerging from these collaborations. Overall, Benjamin believes in the importance of industry and government collaboration in promoting best practices and ensuring the safe adoption of digital assets. 

Web3 Integration into Web2

Ben Jorgensen, CEO of Constellation Labs, chimed in regarding the evolution of blockchain technology over the past five years, highlighting a shift in approach from token-centric to business-centric thinking. He emphasized the importance of integrating blockchain technology seamlessly into Web2 traditional business models rather than creating separate entities solely focused on blockchain. Essentially, elements of Web3 can be layered into existing Web2 infrastructure to create innovative products. He also emphasized the importance of understanding the principles of business first and then leveraging digital currency as a tool to enhance operations, leading to faster adoption within consortia like the National DigiFoundry. 

National DigiFoundry operations & initiatives

Workgroups

We sought Kevin’s insights into how the NDF initiative has been receiving ideas from participants and how various use cases are being worked on collaboratively within working groups, including topics like education, refugee management, and climate change disaster response.

“The most important digital currency is digital data”

Kevin emphasized the significance of digital data as the most crucial form of currency, highlighting its importance in shaping the NDF’s focus. He mentioned the establishment of a new workgroup, the Worldwide Refugee Processing Workgroup, which aimed to integrate networking technology with encrypted micro-edge processing to safeguard personal identity information for refugees. 

Despite initial skepticism about the connection between refugee processing and digital currency, Kevin underscored the importance of leveraging technology to assist those in need, emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the initiative. He recognizes the steady stream of ideas from participants, including the innovative proposal for the refugee workgroup presented by Maximus, a Silver member. He conveyed National DigiFoundry’s genuine openness to embracing these humanitarian ideas.

Funding

Kevin discussed the income streams of the National DigiFoundry, highlighting the grant as seed money to kickstart operations. He emphasized the importance of transitioning to a member-funded organization, where participants shared a common vision and mission. He also mentioned government organizations with mandates to explore digital assets, such as the IRS issuing RFIs and states like New Mexico seeking to use digital assets to improve resilience. 

Additionally, he described the NDF as an incubator for Web3 industries, aiming to build prototypes and transition them into sustainable commercial entities. The NDF wants to continue to create partnerships with big companies and have discussions with venture capitalists as additional funding streams to ensure the NDF’s perpetuity.

Ben from Constellation discussed the ongoing efforts to establish a process for offering grants through the National DigiFoundry. He mentioned collaborating with the Stardust Collective, a DAO in the Constellation ecosystem, to oversee business development efforts and governance. Additionally, Ben highlighted discussions with Kevin over the past few weeks to develop an effective plan for grant offerings.

While not revealing all of the details yet, Ben mentioned that they are in the process of outlining the structure and participation criteria for the grants. He emphasized the NDF’s role in incubating ideas and expressed excitement about partnering with them to provide opportunities for building on Constellation. The CEO indicated that more information about the grant program would be shared later in the month or next month.

Upcoming events

Kevin Jackson discussed the development of a digital asset symposium planned for late spring in the Chicago area. The symposium aims to provide attendees with the opportunity to propose new digital asset business models through a competitive process. Winners will receive the chance to prototype their ideas on the NDF and Constellation Network infrastructure, presenting them to potential investors upon completion. Kevin encouraged those with innovative ideas and a drive to bring them to fruition to stay tuned for further announcements.

National DigiFoundry – getting involved

Kevin finished our podcast by highlighting the purpose of NDF in uniting people, organizations, and governments to leverage Web3 for the benefit of global society. He emphasized the inclusivity of NDF, welcoming members from around the world to contribute their ideas. He encourages those interested to visit the website and join as members, highlighting the lifetime access to training and education. 

You can also stay connected with Kevin via his show, “Digital Transformers” on Supply Chain Now. This National DigiFoundry speaker series is also located on Apple Podcasts. 

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