Exploring the Application of Shared Ledger Technology to Safeguards and other National Security Topics

In 2016, the Office of International Nuclear Safeguards at the National Nuclear Security Administration within the Department of Energy commissioned the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to explore the potential implications of the digital currency Bitcoin and its underlying technology, blockchain, on the safeguards system. The authors found that the general class of technologies to which blockchain belonged, Shared Ledger Technologies (SLT), offers a spectrum of potential benefits to the safeguards system. While further research is needed to validate assumptions and findings in the paper, preliminary analysis suggests that both the International Atomic Energy Agency and Member States can use SLT as part of a new system to promote efficient, effective, accurate, and timely reporting. The novel architecture of SLT would lead to significant increases to trust and transparency in the safeguards system without sacrificing confidentiality of safeguards data. This increased transparency and involvement of Member States in certain safeguards transactions could lead to increased trust and cooperation among States and the public. This paper describes these benefits and the analytical framework for assessing SLT applications for specific safeguards problems. The paper also describes other national security areas where SLT could provide benefits.