Digital Asset and American Idea Foundation Launch Blockchain-Based RISE Pilot for State Benefit Distribution

Quick Summary

The American Idea Foundation and Digital Asset are launching RISE Pilot programs to modernize state benefit distribution using blockchain technology. By utilizing the Canton network, the initiative integrates fragmented safety net programs into a unified, programmable system that improves accountability, reduces fraud, and supports upward mobility for families.

How Does the RISE Pilot Modernize Benefit Distribution?

The RISE Pilot program addresses the fragmentation of the current American safety net by consolidating multiple assistance programs into a single, integrated blockchain system. Currently, families navigate a maze of separate eligibility requirements and payment schedules; RISE simplifies this by combining benefits into unified monthly payments. Key features of the modernization include:

• Programmable benefit rules for food, child care, and cash categories.
• Automated benefit adjustments that respond in real-time as household income increases.
• Mobile-first access to improve the user experience for participating families.
• Identity verification protocols to ensure program integrity and prevent fraud.

By leveraging blockchain technology, states can ensure that funds are used according to specific program rules while providing families with a dignified, streamlined experience.

What Results Can States Expect from Blockchain Infrastructure?

By adopting the Canton network, states gain a transparent audit trail and real-time oversight capabilities that were previously impossible with legacy systems. The platform provides authorized government partners with comprehensive program dashboards to monitor enrollment, payment eligibility, and total funds distributed. This infrastructure allows for:

• Real-time transaction monitoring to identify and decline unauthorized spending.
• Rigorous data collection on employment, earnings, and housing stability.
• Privacy-enabled coordination between state agencies and nonprofit case managers.

The RISE Pilot program is designed to generate high-quality evidence, allowing policymakers to measure the impact of economic mobility initiatives and refine the safety net before broader national adoption.

"Three decades ago, states led the way on welfare reform by testing new approaches and showing Washington what was possible. The RISE pilot program is an opportunity for states to lead again," said Paul Ryan, President and Founder of the American Idea Foundation. "We can build a safety net that is simpler for families, more accountable to taxpayers, and better aligned with work and upward mobility. By combining fragmented benefits, reducing penalties as families earn more, and rigorously measuring results, these pilots can help show what a modern safety net should look like."

How Does Digital Asset Ensure Data Privacy and Security?

Digital Asset utilizes its Canton blockchain technology to balance the need for transparency with the strict privacy requirements of government institutions. The system enables trusted participants to coordinate shared transactions while maintaining sovereign control over sensitive citizen data. This ensures that while a comprehensive audit trail is created for compliance, personal information remains protected. The RISE Pilot program demonstrates how blockchain technology can be applied to public infrastructure to create a system that is simultaneously more responsive to individual circumstances and more accountable to taxpayers.

"Modern public infrastructure should combine strong controls with the ability to respond to people's circumstances in real time," said Yuval Rooz, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Asset. "Canton enables trusted participants to coordinate shared transactions and rules while preserving the privacy and control complex institutions require. With RISE, we can apply those capabilities to a new use case and help states test a benefit system that is more transparent, responsive, and accountable."

FF NEWS TAKE:

The RISE Pilot program represents a significant shift in how blockchain technology is viewed by public policy leaders. By moving beyond crypto-speculation into core public infrastructure, Digital Asset and the American Idea Foundation are tackling the "benefits cliff"—where earning more leads to a sudden loss of support. If successful, this blockchain-based safety net could move the needle by proving that programmable money is the key to efficient, fraud-resistant government service delivery.