US DoD - Blockchain Report

[John]

So the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services directed the Secretary of Defense, Retired General Lloyd Austin, to test potential applications of blockchain technology for supply chain management and other national security applications within the US Department of Defense (DOD).


https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/118th-congress/senate-report/188/1


Assessment of blockchain technology for supply chain security and other national security uses

"The committee acknowledges the potential uses of blockchain technology for broader national security purposes within the
defense landscape. As other countries invest in blockchain research and development efforts, it is important that the U.S. retains global leadership in this critical technology.

Particularly, the committee notes that data-driven security, transparency, accountability, and auditability of supply chains are critical to U.S. national defense and economic competitiveness. The committee notes that blockchain technology has the potential to enhance the cryptographic integrity of the defense supply chain, improve data integrity, and reduce the risk of the manipulation or corruption of certain types of data by near-peer competitors.

The committee also believes that the Department of Defense (DOD) should explore the use of blockchain technology to achieve national security goals and to create secure, transparent, accountable, and auditable data related to supply chains.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee,
not later than April 1, 2025, on the potential applications of blockchain technology for supply chain management and other national security applications within DOD. The briefing shall include:
(1) An assessment of the potential benefits and risks associated with implementing blockchain technology in supply chain tracking and management;
(2) An analysis of the current state of blockchain adoption in supply chain tracking and other national security applications within DOD and the defense industrial base, including estimates for the resources required for such activities;
(3) A plan for pilot programs or research and development efforts to explore the use of blockchain technology in national security applications, including supply chain management, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure assets, and procurement auditability;
(4) An analysis of activities that foreign countries, including the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, are conducting,and are planning to conduct, with respect to research and development of blockchain technology, including estimates of the types and amounts of resources, including cost estimates, directed by such countries to such activities;
(5) Organizational recommendations to foster the potential development and use cases for blockchain within DOD, including recommendations on the feasibility and advisability of creating a single coordinating office or center of excellence for research and development on blockchain technology initiatives across the branches of the military;
(6) Recommendations for legislative or regulatory actions to incorporate blockchain technology to support supply chain transparency and auditability; and
(7) Any other information the Secretary deems relevant.

https://servedbyadbutler.com/redire...8b4b1ef14dfe94a06919d49315eeec8bc4b&location=
So they should have provided a briefing by April 1, 2025.

And i can't find any mention of it anywhere....can someone help me?

 

[multipolargrifter]

I would like to believe that there are genuine attempts to root corruption out of defense spending and supply chains, but I fear that the corruption is too baked into the system. I think you would need a very determined president that sees beyond the immediate need to maintain US hegemony in order to combat corruption in this sector. In other words, when you are in war (or Cold War), the knee jerk reaction for most (including trump in my opinion) would be to centralize control through the path of least resistance. To me that would mean relying on relatively easier to control companies (newer) with strong ties to his buddies whom he can trust (Mike Pompeo). It is useful to hear about this blockchain proposal and from what I understand it would be good. I am just skeptical that red tape would be put up in the name of oversight and regulation when trump currently wants free reign to use every tool at his disposal.

 

[John]

I agree. And there have been many attempts to put blockcahin into the mineral sector. And most of them have really gone nowhere.

But if the DoD mandated it....then I think it could really take off.

Also ESG could also be a good use case.

 

[Rare Earth Rookie]

this is so interesting.

I'm new to the blockchain concept (thought it was only for crypto and NFTs), wouldn’t have connected it to something like the defense supply chain (??)if it actually works the way it’s supposed to, wouldn’t that be a huge gamechanger for transparency?

@multipolargrifter It never crossed. my mind that regulation might increase control instead of reducing it. Makes me wonder how many f these kinds of tech ideas get buried in bureaucracy before they ever get a real shot. I appreciate your fresh perspective.

also @John — if ESG is involved, could this help prove whether rare earths were mined ethically? like no child labor, no sketchy third parties, no deals with companies that dump uranium in the oceans? How would that work?

just trying to wrap my head around how this all connects.

 

[Invest-in-USA]

I get that this directive might not grab headlines, but it could quietly reshape the infrastructure behind our national defense. If the DoD actually mandates blockchain standards across its supply chain, >>> it could drive private-sector adoption far more effectively than voluntary ESG frameworks ever have.

Biggest signal to watch? Whether a coordinating body is established, as outlined in point (5). That’s typically when funding and long-term accountability start to follow.

I'm now wondering how this ends up concentrating influence among a few large, defense-adjacent firms that can move fast on pilot programs.

@multipolargrifter — your point about centralized control is worth pausing on. The paradox here is whether transparency tools like blockchain will actually expose corruption—or just become another shield for it.

@rareearthrookie Honestly, I didn't think about it either until Grifter mentioned it

Does anyone have an example where tech like this actually shifted the balance of power? Or does it inevitably reinforce the same hierarchy it was meant to disrupt?

 

[John]

There has been talk of blockchain for mining for about 7 years now. Everyone said it was going to be the next big thing. WIll show everyone where their product has come from and give it a big ESG tick of approval. And lots of the big miners set up their own block chain investigations/trials etc.

They seem to have got it working....but there just doesn't seem to be much interest. So businesses seem to have just sidelined all the block chain mining projects...and maybe if the market/consumer want it...then it will come back.

BUT - if some one like the USA DoD mandates it.....then that could also kick start it.

And the rest of the mining industry could piggback off it.

BTW - you don't need one blockchain to make it work. IT is possible to bridge across to other blockchains. Just gotta be careful with the coding in the 'bridge'. Because that is an area of vulnerability.