State Department Launches Freedom Tech Program With Bitcoin Policy Institute

The US Department of State has introduced a new initiative called the Freedom Tech Excellence Program, naming the Bitcoin Policy Institute as a founding partner alongside Palantir Technologies, Anduril Industries, and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Program Embeds Private Sector Experts In Diplomacy

According to Friday’s announcement, the program functions as a talent-exchange initiative that places private-sector employees within State Department efforts focused on digital freedom and freedom of expression. The Bitcoin Policy Institute said the program brings outside experts into government work covering online expression, privacy-enhancing technologies, countering digital surveillance, and responsible AI governance. Participants will serve limited-term assignments while remaining employed by their home organizations, with the State Department noting the program is not a route to permanent government employment.

Move Fits Broader Trump Administration Crypto Push

The initiative arrives as President Trump continues prioritizing crypto policy during his second term, having previously directed federal agencies to position the US as a leading hub for digital assets, including an executive order establishing a national bitcoin reserve built from seized criminal assets. The Bitcoin Policy Institute, founded in 2021 and led by president David Zell, describes itself as a nonpartisan think tank focused on bitcoin research and policy engagement.