The Bitcoin Policy Institute has joined the US State Department’s Freedom Tech Excellence Program as a founding partner.
Summary
- Bitcoin Policy Institute staff will support the State Department’s interim assignments focused on digital freedom around the world.
- Palantir, Anduril, and a human rights organization have joined BPI as founding partners of the new initiative.
- FTP includes online chats, privacy tools, digital surveillance, scams, and artificial intelligence management standards.
The program will include private sector experts within the department for limited assignments related to digital freedom and freedom of expression. Palantir Technologies, Anduril Industries and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation are other founding partners.
BPI announced its role in a July 24 post on X. It said participating staff will work with State Department experts in cyberspace, privacy tools, digital surveillance and managing artificial intelligence. The announcement did not say how many BPI employees will participate, when hiring will begin or which offices they will occupy.
The State Department has opened up roles for foreign experts
The State Department defines FTP as a talent partnership that brings private sector workers to the government for a fixed period of time. Participants remain connected to their organizations while supporting diplomatic projects in areas where the department seeks additional technical expertise. They will also gain direct experience in foreign policy and international development.
The department lists several areas of operation. It includes protecting freedom of expression online, resisting illegal surveillance and scams, expanding access to encryption and virtual private networks, supporting responsible AI governance and improving children’s online safety. The program is not a Bitcoin reserve, a payment system or a crypto licensing project.
BPI said the program will allow its employees to “work with State Department experts and protect digital freedom around the world.” However, no group released individual jobs. The scope may vary according to the capabilities of each participant and the needs of the executive teams.
BPI brings Bitcoin and privacy research to diplomacy
Founded in 2021, the Bitcoin Policy Institute describes itself as a nonpartisan, non-profit organization. Its work includes Bitcoin policy, national security, financial inclusion, energy and human rights. The group argued that encryption and open financial networks could help journalists, dissidents and users in countries where governments restrict speech or financial access.
The inclusion of BPI does not mean that the State Department will promote Bitcoin in all FTP projects. The official definition focuses on broader questions of digital policy. BPI employees may advise on privacy technology, anti-censorship systems or financial access, but the government has not named Bitcoin linked to this program.
The party will continue its broad policy work without FTP. Its Freedom Tech DC conference is scheduled for September 22 and 23 in Washington. The event will bring together policy makers, researchers, investors and technology developers to discuss finance, discourse and computing. This conference is unique to the State Department partnership.
Palantir, Anduril and the rights group joined as partners
Palantir and Anduril bring expertise in data software, security technology and government contracts. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation works on human rights, political repression and authoritarian governments. Together, these four organizations offer policy, engineering, national security and public policy.
The ministry has not yet explained how it will allocate projects to partners. It has not yet listed the countries, embassies or institutions involved. That information will specify whether the installation focuses on policy research, technical tools, staff training or overseas programs.
FTP uses fixed-term jobs instead of permanent appointments. That structure could bring specialized workers to the government without creating full-time roles. Associates may later return to their organizations with specific knowledge of diplomatic procedures and government requirements.
Bitcoin reserve advocacy remains a different policy track
BPI has supported efforts to turn President Donald Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into federal law. Trump signed an executive order establishing this reserve on March 6, 2025. It created a Bitcoin-based reserve that was confiscated by criminal or civil charges and ordered officials to study budget-neutral ways to get more BTC.
Senator Cynthia Lummis also introduced the March 2025 Bitcoin Act at an event hosted by BPI. The bill proposed that the US government receive one million BTC, but it had not yet passed when the FTP was announced. The State Department’s plan does not advance that bill or give BPI authority over federal Bitcoin.
The nature reserve is also under development. As crypto.news reported in July 2026, government officials were still reviewing which agency would legally control the assets and how custody should operate. The White House order named the Treasury Department, and later negotiations also involved the Commerce and Justice departments.
So FTP gives BPI a role in foreign policy talent management, not controlling US crypto policy. Its work will focus on shared projects for digital freedom. Further reviews should show how many professionals are participating, where they work and what technology the program uses.
