To develop NDF, UTSA will create a new Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), a national organization that promotes engagement and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
NDF will collaboratively explore global standards and best practices for the use and exchange of digital assets. The organization will leverage blockchain technologies to establish work groups, publish digital asset industry recommendations and advance other NDF-sponsored activities such as conferences and speaker series.
“This project will deliver long-term benefits. It has already attracted interest from diverse stakeholders, including multiple federal agencies, health-care providers, military services, Web 3.0 companies, public transportation operators, investors and various entrepreneurial startups,” said John Huggins, interim executive director of UTSA’s National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC). “This NSF grant will allow UTSA to partner in unique ways with universities, industry, government, nonprofits and national labs to innovate in the digital asset ecosystem.”
Current digital asset management systems pose several cybersecurity challenges. They are prone to decentralized notification attacks, multi-call transaction audits and risks associated with on-chain transaction verifications using multi-signature wallets.
NDF is building a framework to adapt to the fast-paced digital asset market. Solutions will include improved access for digital asset users, availability of cybersecurity experts and seamless access to customer feedback.
Managed by national subject matter experts, the foundry offers a controlled environment where researchers can collaborate and mitigate risks.
NDF has established three inaugural work groups including climate chain disaster response, health-care research publishing and secure information sharing. The NSCC is leading the project.
