Today, the Electronic Currency and Secure Hardware Act was introduced in Congress. It could be a step in the right direction for government-sponsored digital currencies.

This legislation requires the U.S. Treasury Secretary to pilot an electronic version (e-version) of the U.S. dollars that’s easy to use by those who are economically marginalized and/or technically impaired. It would also “maximize” consumer protection and data privacy, according to its principal sponsor Representative Stephen Lynch, chair of the Fintech Task Force in the House Financial Services Committee.