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Science & Tech Spotlight: Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technologies

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Sept. 16, 2019
Release Date Sept. 16, 2019
Report No. GAO-19-704SP
Summary:

The technology that allows Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to function could profoundly change the way government and industry do business. Distributed ledger technology allows the secure transfer of digital assets without management by a central authority. Instead, participants share synchronized copies of a ledger that records assets and transactions. Changes are visible to all participants.

Questions remain about the technology, including where it may be most useful, how best to regulate it, and how to mitigate its use in illegal activities.

How blockchain, a form of distributed ledger technology, acts as a means of payment for cryptocurrencies.

Illustration showing the six steps for making payments using cryptocurrency

Illustration showing the six steps for making payments using cryptocurrency

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