Digital Asset, the developer behind the Canton blockchain, is preparing to pilot a blockchain-based system designed to distribute government welfare benefits across three U.S. states, according to reports. The initiative is being developed with the American Idea Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan.
The proposed program, known as RISE, is short for Resources for Independence, Stability, and Employment. It aims to bring multiple government-administered assistance programs into a more unified payment system, potentially changing how eligible recipients receive and manage public benefits.
The RISE program is being designed to consolidate multiple welfare and aid benefits into a single blockchain-based payment system, with the Canton network expected to provide the underlying infrastructure.
The pilot is targeted for the first quarter of 2027, although the project remains subject to federal approval. Digital Asset and the American Idea Foundation have not yet disclosed which three states will participate or which specific welfare programs will be included in the initial trial.
Single Payment Model Under Consideration
The proposed structure would combine several forms of government assistance into a consolidated payment. Under the model being considered, eligible recipients could receive a single payment once or twice each month rather than managing separate disbursements associated with different programs.
Such an approach could simplify the administration of public assistance while potentially making benefit distribution easier for recipients. Government agencies could also gain a more unified mechanism for coordinating payments across multiple programs.
The use of blockchain technology is expected to form a central component of the initiative. Canton, the blockchain developed by Digital Asset, is being considered as the infrastructure supporting the RISE program.
Blockchain-based systems can provide a shared digital record of transactions and allow authorized participants to coordinate financial activity through a common network. For a welfare distribution system, such infrastructure could potentially support greater transparency and more streamlined payment processing, although the practical benefits will depend on how the pilot is designed and implemented.
Federal Approval Remains a Key Step
The planned launch is still dependent on federal approval, making regulatory clearance an important milestone for the project. The participating states and the government benefit programs selected for the pilot are expected to be identified at a later stage.
The initiative also comes as governments and technology companies continue exploring ways to modernize payment infrastructure and reduce administrative complexity. Welfare programs can involve multiple agencies, eligibility requirements and payment schedules, which can make benefits difficult to coordinate.
By combining different forms of assistance into a unified payment, RISE could give eligible recipients a simpler way to access government support while potentially reducing the complexity of administering separate benefit streams.
The involvement of the American Idea Foundation adds a policy-focused component to the initiative. The organization is participating alongside Digital Asset as the two groups work toward developing the proposed system and testing its viability in state-level welfare programs.
Pilot Could Test Blockchain’s Role in Public Benefits
The three-state pilot is expected to provide an opportunity to evaluate whether blockchain technology can support government benefit distribution at scale. The results could help determine whether a consolidated digital payment model can improve administrative efficiency while maintaining appropriate controls for public funds and recipient eligibility.
However, significant details remain unresolved. The states involved, the welfare programs covered, and the exact structure of the payments have yet to be disclosed. Federal authorization is also required before the planned pilot can proceed.
As per reports, the RISE initiative is currently positioned as a limited pilot rather than a nationwide replacement for existing welfare payment systems. Its initial results could nevertheless provide insight into whether blockchain infrastructure can be used to coordinate government assistance more efficiently.
If approved and successfully launched in early 2027, the pilot could offer an important real-world test of whether blockchain infrastructure can support the delivery of government benefits across multiple programs and jurisdictions.