Digital Asset, the blockchain firm behind the Canton Network, has teamed up with a foundation led by former House Speaker Paul Ryan to launch a pilot program aimed at modernizing how US states deliver public benefits, with a rollout targeted for 2027.
A New Approach to Public Assistance
The initiative, called RISE, would tap the Canton Network to consolidate and distribute state-administered benefits across three participating US states. The goal is to streamline how Americans access government assistance, which is often fragmented across multiple agencies and delivery systems.
By running the program on a blockchain infrastructure, the partners argue that recipients could see faster, more transparent access to funds while states gain better tools for coordination and oversight. The collaboration pairs Digital Asset's technology with the policy influence of a foundation associated with Paul Ryan, giving the effort both technical and political backing.
The plan seeks to turn a patchwork of state benefit systems into a single, streamlined blockchain-based pipeline.
Why the Canton Network
The Canton Network is a blockchain designed with privacy and interoperability in mind, features that make it a candidate for handling sensitive government data. Public benefits programs must balance accessibility with strict rules around confidentiality, and supporters say the network's architecture could address both concerns.
The pilot is expected to begin in 2027, giving the participating states time to prepare the necessary infrastructure and regulatory groundwork. If successful, the model could offer a template for wider adoption across other states looking to update aging benefits systems.
Key elements of the RISE program include:
- Use of the Canton Network to unify state-administered benefits
- A pilot spanning three US states
- A launch timeline set for 2027
- Backing from Digital Asset and a foundation led by Paul Ryan
The effort reflects a broader push to bring blockchain infrastructure into government services, an area where proponents see potential for efficiency gains but where adoption has so far remained limited.