Startups Complete Data Exchange Testing With CBP Using Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technologies

Three startups have completed real-time supply chain data exchange testing with Customs and Border Protection aimed at preventing forgery and counterfeiting of certificates and licenses.

Mesur.io, Neoflow and Transmute performed work under Department of Homeland Security contracts awarded through the Science and Technology Directorate’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program. Neoflow’s work focused on oil and natural gas, while mesur.io and Transmute concentrated on agriculture and food safety, and steel and e-commerce, respectively, DHS said. 

Over a three-year period, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies from the companies were evaluated, particularly their capabilities to enhance global interoperability, traceability, security and automation of cross-border supply chain information in compliance with the World-Wide Web Consortium’s Verifiable Credential Data Model, Linked Data and W3C Decentralized Identifiers standards.

As part of the contract, the startups contributed to developing the said standards and creating definitions for traceability vocabularies in the W3C Credential Community Group. The companies also established open, royalty-free, free-to-use application programming interfaces to enable global interoperability.