Erwin: Georgia Can Be A Blockchain Leader, If We’re Smart.
Most everyone has heard of Bitcoin, the digital currency that has been around for a while. The technology behind Bitcoin is known as the blockchain. The simplest way to understand Blockchain is that it is a…
…distributed ledger with growing lists of records (blocks) that are securely linked together via cryptographic hashes. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Since each block contains information about the previous block, they effectively form a chain, with each additional block linking to the ones before it. Consequently, blockchain transactions are resistant to alteration because, once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be changed retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks and obtaining network consensus to accept these changes. This protects blockchains against nefarious activities such as creating assets “out of thin air”, double-spending, counterfeiting, fraud, and theft.
Blockchain technology has broader applications than just cryptocurrency. When I was a candidate for Secretary of State in 2018, Sierra Leone, working with a Swiss company, used blockchain to secure the votes in its national election. Screven County became the first U.S. locality to pilot a blockchain-secured system in last November’s election.
Many other industries are using blockchain to secure important data and increase transparency. The financial system, which over the next few years is likely to become highly tokenized, with digital coins and “stablecoins” (tethered to U.S. treasury bills and dollars) as the backbone of the world’s financial system.
Tony Erwin, a blockchain expert, writes at James Online that Georgia needs to take action to position itself as a leader in blockchain innovation.
We’re not starting from scratch. Georgia is already a payments and logistics powerhouse, home to financial institutions, global brands, and a rising generation of tech talent. This talent also includes blockchain through organizations like the Atlanta Blockchain Center. Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and Speaker Jon Burns have each made clear that embracing innovation is a strategic priority—not a partisan issue.
That’s a smart approach. Just as the internet once transformed how we communicate and shop, blockchain is transforming how we execute and verify transactions, move value, and manage data. The technology is already being used to reduce remittance costs for working families, improve supply chain traceability, and enable real-time payments with fewer intermediaries.
But policy hasn’t caught up. Too many innovators are forced to navigate unclear rules, overlapping jurisdictions, or outdated regulatory frameworks. As a result, we’ve seen talent and capital move abroad.
To stay competitive, we need to modernize our regulatory approach. That means updating laws to reflect the realities of today’s economy, providing legal clarity for emerging technologies, and holding bad actors accountable without penalizing responsible builders. When done right, regulation should unlock opportunity—not limit it.
We should be protecting consumers with clear rules and strong oversight while enabling responsible risk-taking, financial inclusion, and open competition. That’s how we foster a thriving digital economy rooted in American values and designed for long-term success.
Good advice.
