Building knowledge in blockchain technology across government
Science advice to help explore blockchain technology's potential, building understanding and identifying the challenges of applying it to public services.
In 2016, blockchain – also known as distributed ledger technology – was attracting growing interest around the world. Many saw the technology as a way to improve how information is recorded and shared; for example, the diamond industry uses blockchain technology to give diamonds a secure digital passport, helping to track its movements, ownership and related documentation.
The technologies benefits for government, however, were unclear and departments wanted to find out how the technology could support public services efficiently and securely. This meant that policy teams needed clear, balanced and evidence-based advice.
As a result, the Government Office for Science carried out a project to explore the possibilities of blockchain technology. They reviewed international research, spoke to experts in the field and worked with departments to understand where the technology might be useful.
One of the first steps was creating a cross‑government Community of Interest (COI). This brought together people from different departments who were curious about the technology. Several departments also began trial projects, such as exploring how the technology could support wider government processes, from record‑keeping to public service delivery.
To support this cross-government work, the Government Office for Science produced a report explaining the science behind the technology in clear, accessible language. It set out how blockchain worked, where it might be useful and what challenges need to be understood.
The project positioned the UK as an early global leader in understanding blockchain technology. In 2018, Digital Catapult highlighted the UK’s work as setting an international example of early thought leadership, and it was praised more widely as one of the clearest explanations of blockchain available at the time. It was translated into Russian, Polish and Japanese, helping other countries understand the UK’s approach.
This work helped government build early awareness of blockchain technology, encouraging government departments to consider how emerging technology can support better services. The project is a great example of how science can guide thinking on new and fast‑moving innovations.