US State Department to Host Blockchain Forum Next Month

A blockchain working group within the US State Department is hosting an event in Washington, DC, next month.

The Blockchain@State initiative has organized a one-day workshop, bringing together representatives from the various offices within the State Department (plus other parts of the US government) as well as those from the private sector. The goal of the event, according to the group, is to "explore both the policy implications and potential applications" of the tech within the context of US diplomatic efforts.

Set for October 10, the event will be held at the George C. Marshall Center. Though some details are unclear at this time – the opening keynote speaker is only identified as a "High-Level U.S. Government Official," per EventBrite – confirmed speakers include Toomas Ilves, former president of Estonia, and State Department chief information officer Frontis Wiggins.

Part of the day will be dedicated to use cases, with IBM, Microsoft, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and ConsenSys, among other firms, included in the list of participating companies. The event will also see discussions on how blockchain can assist with various global issues, including humanitarian crises.

Blockchain@State

was originally launched earlier this year with the goal of tracking blockchain developments and keeping the department informed of new applications with the technology.

This will be the second blockchain-related forum involving the State Department this year, after an inter-agency event held in July. That forum, co-hosted by the General Services Administration, was aimed at helping agencies develop six-month plans for utilizing the technology to further their unique missions.

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