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US Senate Pushes Department of Defense to Explore Blockchain
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has taken significant steps toward integrating blockchain technology into national defense strategies.
The Committee educated Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will explore the potential applications of blockchain in improving supply chain management and other critical areas of national security within the Department of Defense. This directive was part of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) report released on July 9.
The committee highlighted the potential of blockchain technology to improve data integrity and mitigate data manipulation risks, while strengthening the resilience of the defense supply chain against peer competitors.
The committee also directed the Department of Defense to create pilot programs or research projects that examine the potential applications of blockchain technology in supply chain management, procurement auditability, and cybersecurity for vital infrastructure.
These efforts aim to leverage the cryptographic integrity of blockchain to make data essential to national security objectives secure, transparent, reliable, and verifiable.
Secretary Austin is expected to hold a full briefing on these initiatives by April 1, 2025. The blockchain briefing should outline plans for pilot programs or research efforts to explore how blockchain technology can be used in national security applications, such as improving supply chain management, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, and ensuring procurement auditability.
Other key aspects include assessing the benefits and risks of blockchain in supply chain monitoring, analyzing its current adoption in global supply chains (including China and Russia), and estimating its feasibility and costs.
US lawmakers are increasingly supporting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. A July 8 update Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign website says the Republican National Committee has approved a draft program that includes support for Bitcoin mining and cryptocurrencies.
As these developments unfold, the intersection of blockchain technology and national security policy marks a pivotal moment in U.S. defense strategy and cryptocurrency advocacy, setting the stage for potentially transformative impacts in both sectors in the near future.
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