Key Takeaways
- • The American Idea Foundation (AIF) and Digital Asset announced a collaboration to launch state RISE (Resources for Independence, Stability, and Employment) Pilot Benefit Distribution programs, with an initial Q1 2027 rollout planned across three states, subject to federal approvals.
- • Canton, the public layer-one blockchain created by Digital Asset, will serve as the technology foundation for benefit distribution in the pilot.
- • RISE would combine multiple benefits, including food, child care, and cash, into monthly or twice-monthly payments, with benefit levels automatically adjusted as household income rises.
- • The pilots are designed to test, measure, and refine a new safety-net distribution model before broader adoption, with a broad series of state pilots planned thereafter.
- • The evaluation will track employment and earnings, benefit utilization, education and training, and housing and household stability, with findings informing later deployments.
Summary
The American Idea Foundation (AIF) and Digital Asset have announced a collaboration to support the launch of state RISE (Resources for Independence, Stability, and Employment) Pilot Benefit Distribution programs, according to a PR Newswire release. The initiative aims to modernize how state-run benefits are administered and delivered. Canton, the blockchain network created by Digital Asset, will provide the technology foundation for benefit distribution in the pilot. The initial rollout is scheduled for Q1 2027 across three states, and the pilots are subject to federal approvals.
The RISE model addresses what the release describes as a persistent challenge in the American safety net: families often receive assistance through multiple programs, each with separate eligibility rules, payment schedules, reporting processes, and benefit phase-outs. Under the model, multiple benefits can be combined into monthly or twice-monthly payments, with benefit levels adjusted automatically as families enter the workforce and household income increases. Payments would be programmable across categories including food, child care, and cash. The platform is intended to verify identity and participation requirements, support mobile access, help prevent fraud, and apply program rules to fund distribution and use.
Authorized state agencies, nonprofit case managers, and independent research evaluators would have access to real-time transaction, participation, and compliance information, creating a complete audit trail. The platform is intended to record deposits, purchases, balances, declined transactions, and spending by benefit category, and government partners can review enrollment, payment eligibility, total funds distributed, and aggregate spending through program dashboards.
Paul Ryan, President and Founder of the American Idea Foundation and former Speaker of the House, said the pilots give states an opportunity to lead on safety-net reform as they did during welfare reform three decades ago. Yuval Rooz, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Asset, said Canton enables trusted participants to coordinate shared transactions and rules while preserving privacy and control.
The evaluation is expected to measure employment and earnings, benefit utilization, education and training, housing and household stability, and other indicators of economic mobility. Findings from the first state pilots will inform later RISE deployments, and AIF and Digital Asset intend to expand the initiative to different benefit systems and participant populations.
The RISE model addresses what the release describes as a persistent challenge in the American safety net: families often receive assistance through multiple programs, each with separate eligibility rules, payment schedules, reporting processes, and benefit phase-outs. Under the model, multiple benefits can be combined into monthly or twice-monthly payments, with benefit levels adjusted automatically as families enter the workforce and household income increases. Payments would be programmable across categories including food, child care, and cash. The platform is intended to verify identity and participation requirements, support mobile access, help prevent fraud, and apply program rules to fund distribution and use.
Authorized state agencies, nonprofit case managers, and independent research evaluators would have access to real-time transaction, participation, and compliance information, creating a complete audit trail. The platform is intended to record deposits, purchases, balances, declined transactions, and spending by benefit category, and government partners can review enrollment, payment eligibility, total funds distributed, and aggregate spending through program dashboards.
Paul Ryan, President and Founder of the American Idea Foundation and former Speaker of the House, said the pilots give states an opportunity to lead on safety-net reform as they did during welfare reform three decades ago. Yuval Rooz, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Asset, said Canton enables trusted participants to coordinate shared transactions and rules while preserving privacy and control.
The evaluation is expected to measure employment and earnings, benefit utilization, education and training, housing and household stability, and other indicators of economic mobility. Findings from the first state pilots will inform later RISE deployments, and AIF and Digital Asset intend to expand the initiative to different benefit systems and participant populations.
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