Blockchain Pilot Aims to Simplify US Public Benefits Distribution

A blockchain-based pilot project aimed at modernizing public benefits distribution in the United States has been announced by Digital Asset and the American Idea Foundation, an organization associated with former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan.

The program, dubbed RISE, would consolidate multiple state-administered benefits into scheduled payments with rules that can adjust to changes in household income.

RISE is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, pending federal approvals. The pilot will test whether a blockchain-based system can handle compliance-heavy workflows while coordinating payment logic and access controls across multiple agencies.