government

Alabama's Blockchain Delay: A Missed Opportunity for Transparency?

Alabama's Blockchain Delay: A Missed Opportunity for Transparency?

Let's be frank. When I found out that Alabama punted on those crypto and blockchain bills, my kneejerk response was to let out a disappointed breath. Not of relief, but of frustration. If it did, it would change the transparency game for government at all levels. Alabama just shut that...

USAID & Blockchain: Can It Fix Government Waste?

USAID & Blockchain: Can It Fix Government Waste?

The U.S. government grapples with a persistent challenge: improper payments. In fiscal year 2023, incorrect judgment and sloppy accounting resulted in over $100 billion in excessive disbursement. Taken together, these problems added up to a shocking $240 billion. This huge number highlights the serious need for new solutions to improve...

USAID's Blockchain Gamble: Smart Upgrade or Bureaucratic Black Hole?

USAID's Blockchain Gamble: Smart Upgrade or Bureaucratic Black Hole?

Even USAID—an agency frequently identified with boots-on-the-ground humanitarian assistance—is flirting with blockchain. In particular, the U.S. International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) has indicated a desire to use it to facilitate internal procurement. The promise is alluring: increased transparency, efficiency, and tamper-proof record-keeping. Picture this—they want a system similar to Amazon’s QLDB,...

USAID Chains Itself: Blockchain's False Dawn in the Swamp?

USAID Chains Itself: Blockchain's False Dawn in the Swamp?

So, USAID is eyeing blockchain for procurement. Not for getting help to starving children, mind you, but for monitoring purchase orders. Sounds…efficient? Or does it just read like another tech-bro fantasy getting stuffed down the gullet of a federal agency that’s already choked on plenty of red tape?Tech Fixes for...