Key Highlights
- Digital Asset and the American Idea Foundation are partnering to launch RISE benefit distribution pilots on the Canton Network.
- RISE, or Resources for Independence, Stability, and Employment, is designed to integrate multiple benefits into coordinated monthly or twice-monthly payments.
- Subject to federal approvals, the pilot programs are expected to begin across three states in Q1 2027.
Digital Asset, the creator of Canton Network, and the American Idea Foundation, a non-profit organization, have announced a collaboration on August 21 to support the launch of state RISE pilot benefit distribution programs. RISE stands for Resources for Independence, Stability, and Employment. Canton, developed by Digital Asset, will serve as the technology foundation for benefit distribution in the pilots.
According to the official announcement, the organizations will support states that implement the RISE pilots. Subject to federal approvals, the pilots are scheduled to begin across three states in the first quarter of 2027. The programs will allow policymakers to test, measure, and refine a benefit distribution model before any wider adoption.
Structure of the RISE model
The RISE approach addresses the administration of benefits that families often receive through multiple separate programs. These programs typically feature distinct eligibility requirements, payment schedules, reporting processes, and benefit phase-outs.
The pilots will examine delivery of those benefits through an integrated system built on blockchain technology. The system is designed to adjust to changes in household circumstances. Under the model, multiple benefits can be combined into monthly or twice-monthly payments.
Benefit levels are set to adjust automatically as household income increases when families enter the workforce. The platform is intended to verify identity and participation requirements, support mobile access, apply program rules to fund distribution and use, and record data related to fraud prevention. Payments are programmable across categories that include food, child care, and cash.
This structure allows states to maintain specific program requirements while presenting families with a single set of payments. Authorized state agencies, nonprofit case managers, and independent research evaluators will have access to real-time transaction, participation, and compliance information. The arrangement is intended to create an audit trail for program oversight and evaluation.
Role of Canton network
Canton will provide the technology infrastructure for benefit distribution in the pilots. The network enables participating organizations to coordinate programmable rules, permissions, transactions and oversight while maintaining controls over sensitive information. States can encode benefit requirements into the distribution process.
The system generates a record of how funds move and are used. The platform is designed to maintain records of deposits, purchases, balances, declined transactions, participation requirements, and spending by benefit category.
Authorized government partners can access program dashboards that display enrollment, pending approvals, task completion, payment eligibility, total funds distributed, and aggregate spending.
In related network activity, Canton Network recorded approximately $55.38 million in protocol revenue over the 30 days ending July 28, 2026, according to DefiLlama data.
Evaluation and expansion plans
The evaluation of the pilots is expected to examine employment and earnings, benefit utilization, education and training, housing and household stability, and other measures of economic mobility and well-being.
Transaction and compliance data from the platform will provide participating governments and evaluators with information on program performance. Findings from the initial state pilots will inform subsequent RISE deployments. The American Idea Foundation and Digital Asset plan to expand the initiative through additional state pilots.
These will adapt the model to different benefit systems, policy requirements, case-management structures, and participant populations. The resulting evidence is intended for use by policymakers in deciding which elements to improve, expand, or replicate.
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