The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, under the Biden administration, has decided to explore the use of blockchain technology for supply chain management and other national security applications within the Department of Defense (DOD). This initiative is part of the latest National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) report, which acknowledges the potential of blockchain for national security purposes.
As other countries advance their blockchain research, the U.S. aims to maintain its position as a global technological leader. The committee emphasizes that the primary goals are to enhance transparency, accountability, and auditability within the U.S. national defense system, thereby improving its cryptographic integrity.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is required to provide a detailed briefing to the committee by April 1st. This briefing will assess the pros and cons of integrating blockchain into America’s supply chains, analyze the current state of blockchain adoption within the DOD and the defense industrial base, and estimate the resources needed for full integration. The report highlights that blockchain technology could enhance the cryptographic integrity of the defense supply chain, improve data integrity, and reduce the risk of data manipulation or corruption by near-peer competitors.
The Senate is keen to understand the blockchain advancements of countries like China and Russia to potentially surpass them in this field. This initiative comes amid growing Republican support for cryptocurrency, which challenges the current Democratic stance. The GOP has included Bitcoin mining and self-custody rights in its party platform draft and promises to end what it calls the Democrats’ “unlawful and unAmerican” crackdown on crypto. Republicans argue against Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), accusing President Biden of using them to control Americans’ finances.
The crypto industry has shown support for Donald Trump, who has promised to mine the remaining Bitcoins in America if re-elected. This political dynamic underscores the ongoing debate over the future of cryptocurrency