Canton Network to Power US Benefits Pilot Program

Digital Asset and the American Idea Foundation, a nonprofit established by former House Speaker Paul Ryan, are spearheading the initiative. The program aims to address the administrative inefficiencies inherent in current safety net systems, where disparate eligibility requirements and payment schedules often create barriers for low-income families. By integrating benefits like food assistance and child care into a unified payment flow, the system seeks to mitigate the 'benefits cliff'—a phenomenon where sudden income gains lead to an abrupt loss of total support.

The Canton Network will serve as the technical backbone, automating compliance and spending restrictions at the point of transaction. Rather than retroactive auditing, the platform allows agencies to encode program rules directly into the payment process. Authorized personnel, including case managers and independent researchers, will gain access to segmented data—such as category-specific spending or pending approvals—without compromising the privacy of the broader recipient profile. While the specific states and federal agencies participating remain undisclosed, the pilot will track metrics ranging from employment and earnings to long-term housing stability to determine if the model can be scaled nationally.