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Bullish on Blockchain: Unlocking the Potential in Government

New Jersey Chief Technology Officer Dave Weinstein thinks government should start “getting its hands dirty” with distributed ledger technology.

New Jersey Chief Technology Officer Dave Weinstein
AUSTIN, Texas — The majority of chief information officers at the annual National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) conference in Austin had some pretty significant reservations about using blockchain technology in government. While intrigued by its potential, most were firmly in "wait and see" mode.

Georgia Chief Technology Officer Steve Nichols said in an interview that the state is considering the policy impacts from using distributed ledger technology, noting that its reliance on cryptocurrencies adds risk to the prospect of its use. "Just because you have some blockchain technology doesn't mean it's governance free," he said. "You've still got to have some form of governance in the equation." 

"I don't think it's the silver bullet that's going to solve all of government's problems, or society's problems, for that matter," said Dave Weinstein, New Jersey chief technology officer, in an interview with Government Technology, but he's optimistic about its future. Here, he talks about some potential applications and benefits that could come from using blockchain.
 

Noelle Knell is the executive editor for e.Republic, responsible for setting the overall direction for e.Republic’s editorial platforms, including Government Technology, Governing, Industry Insider, Emergency Management and the Center for Digital Education. She has been with e.Republic since 2011, and has decades of writing, editing and leadership experience. A California native, Noelle has worked in both state and local government, and is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with majors in political science and American history.