- The Commerce Department will move GDP data to blockchain for fast and open access.
- Other countries like Estonia already use blockchain for secure public records.
- Experts warn that blockchain ensures security but not the accuracy of the data.
In a pivotal policy shift, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce will begin publishing key economic data, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), on blockchain. He made the announcement during a White House Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump. Lutnick told the president, “The Department of Commerce is going to start issuing its statistics on the blockchain because you are the crypto president.”
While Commerce Department data, such as the U.S. census, is already publicly available, placing it on-chain introduces tamper-resistant verification. Officials argue that anchoring statistics on blockchain will provide a permanent, verifiable record of economic figures. No details on the exact implementation timeline or chosen blockchain platform have been disclosed.
Lutnick has repeatedly connected the administration’s vision to digital innovation. He wrote on X, “Technology is at the foundation of the Trump presidency. This administration is going to use bitcoin, digital assets, and blockchain to drive America forward and remain the leader in the global economy.”
Blockchain as Critical Infrastructure
The initiative aims to ensure that official data becomes immutable and immediately verifiable. By embedding GDP figures on a distributed ledger, the Commerce Department seeks to prevent manipulation and create a single reference point for policymakers, analysts, and the public.
This strategy follows global examples of blockchain adoption by governments. In 2016, Estonia integrated Guardtime’s KSI blockchain into its e-health system, securing over one million patient records. The same system now supports its national digital ID infrastructure. In 2021, Australia and Singapore jointly adopted a blockchain platform for issuing and verifying trade documents, reducing both costs and delays. Most recently, in 2024, to deal with lien fraud and make car title transfers easier, the California Department of Motor Vehicles stored 42 million car titles on a permissioned Avalanche blockchain.
Yet, experts caution that blockchain cannot guarantee the quality of input data. Incorrect figures or flawed methodology would still be permanently recorded, underscoring the continuing need for independent oversight and audit processes.
Policy Direction and Global Question
The announcement is mentioned with the U.S. policy objectives. An executive order issued in January 2025 required federal agencies, among other things, to expedite innovation in digital assets and improve transparency. In June, the House of Representatives adopted the “Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2025,” which instructs the Commerce Department to issue standards and a framework for the adoption of blockchain.
Related: U.S. House Bans CBDC via NDAA: Privacy Protection or Innovation Setback?
Analysts point out that official data put on a blockchain could affect smart contracts, automated trading systems, and decentralized finance platforms. From an investor’s point of view, this could mean that blockchain infrastructure is advancing from a technology regarded as speculative to one regarded as part of public trust architecture.
The U.S. government’s integration of blockchain into economic reporting comes as regulators clarify rules around cryptocurrencies. Both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have advanced efforts to define which assets should be treated as securities. Alongside promoting dollar-backed stablecoins, the strategy signals a coordinated approach to digital finance under the Trump administration. Now one question frames the debate: Is the U.S. finally turning macroeconomic reporting into a trustless protocol?
