U.S. State Department launching A program which includes Bitcoin is a great way to promote digital freedom around the world.
The Freedom Tech Excellence Program is a joint initiative between the State Department, Bitcoin Policy Institute and data analytics firm Palantir Technologies. It will also involve the defense technology company Anduril Industries and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
Participants will be focusing on five areas according to the stated program goals: First Amendment protections and freedom of expression in the digital age, countering illegal digital surveillance and scams online; privacy-enhancing technology such as VPNs and strong encryption; responsible governance for emerging technologies like AI; and protecting children and users online.
The inclusion of the Bitcoin Policy Institute signals that the Department views Bitcoin and blockchain technology as tools relevant to circumventing censorship and financial surveillance in authoritarian states — a theme the organization has long championed in its advocacy work.
The FTEP operates through short-term placements, bringing private sector staff into the State Department to work on digital freedom issues.
Since taking office, President Trump’s government has adopted a pro-crypto stance in terms of both regulating the industry and incorporating it into his administration.
In March of 2025, as an example, Donald Trump signed a presidential order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. These were capitalized using approximately 200,000 Bitcoins that the federal government already owned through civil and criminal forfeiture.
Bitcoin is positioned as a national scarce asset, alongside other strategic assets that the U.S. has, such as gold, oil, pharmaceuticals and petroleum.
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Source: bitcoinmagazine.com
