Government and Blockchain - Testing the Solution

Date: June 17, 2019

Craig Fischer, Supervisory Program Manager in the Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation (FIT) recently spoke at a conference hosted by Booz Allen Hamilton and the Data Foundation on the report, "Bringing Blockchain into Government" , to discuss the Bureau of the Fiscal Service's blockchain projects.

The report featured one of FIT's proofs of concept where FIT tested blockchain technology to manage and track physical assets (for example, mobile phones). Although not highlighted in the report, FIT also carried out a proof of concept to better understand if blockchain technology could improve the way we manage and track software licenses.

"If you look at this from a government-wide perspective, data standardization is critical," said Fischer of the software license proof of concept. "So what we learned is ‘can it improve this?' Yes, but not right now because there would need to be a massive standardization effort that would have to take place across the government for blockchain to be an effective tool for managing and tracking software licenses."

The panel also discussed other challenges about blockchain technology. "Right now, the internal knowledge and talent that we need to do these types of things — it's just not there yet," Fischer said.

Although the government wants to pursue many use cases across several federal departments and agencies to use blockchain, Fischer noted that more trials are needed. That is why FIT will continue to get more adept by pressing on through its proof-of-concepts, learning more about this technology.

"I do think that if this doesn't improve life for the user, I see a slower uptick" in implementing blockchain technology, Fischer said. "But if you're seeing use cases where it's like 'this improves my life,' I think you're going to see a faster uptick."

Learn more about FIT's blockchain work.