Maybe Trump and Zelenskyy Should Try Blockchain Diplomacy—At Least It Would Keep Them Honest

In the aftermath of the recent Oval Office meeting between the US President and Ukrainian leader, we witnessed a concerning departure from diplomatic protocol. What was scheduled as a discussion of peace initiatives quickly veered off course, with the original agenda abandoned in favor of an attempt to strengthen position against Russia. This deviation raises an important question i.e. How can we ensure diplomatic engagements remain focused on their stated objectives?

When Traditional Diplomacy Strays from Its Purpose

The event that unfolded on live television revealed a fundamental vulnerability in conventional diplomatic exchanges. When the conversation shifted away from peace negotiations toward taking sides in a geopolitical conflict, we observed how easily diplomatic missions can be derailed from their original purpose.

This incident highlighted three notable challenges of traditional diplomacy:

1. Agenda drift: The meeting, ostensibly organized to discuss peace initiatives, quickly diverged from its stated purpose. When diplomatic conversations aren't anchored to verifiable commitments, they can easily drift toward unrelated or counterproductive topics.

2. Inconsistent adherence to objectives: As the conversation evolved, the original mandate for peace gave way to positioning that potentially complicated the very peace process that was meant to be advanced.

3. Unverifiable commitments: The statements and promises made during such meetings remain largely unverifiable, leaving all parties, and the public uncertain about what was actually agreed upon and what actions will follow.

   
   

What if diplomatic engagements were structured to prevent such deviations? What if we had a system that ensured all parties remained faithful to the agreed-upon agenda?

Proof-of-Work Diplomacy: From Subjective Interpretation to Objective Verification

In my previous writing on Bitcoin's proof-of-work mechanism as an emancipation engine, I outlined how this technology enables verification through objective computational effort. Today, I propose applying these principles to international diplomacy.

Just as Bitcoin replaced subjective trust with mathematical verification, diplomatic exchanges could transition from easily diverted conversations to objectively trackable commitments.

Consider how diplomatic relations might function through a framework inspired by blockchain technology:

• Agenda-Bound Smart Contracts: Diplomatic meetings could begin with all parties committing to a cryptographically secured agenda. Deviations would be immediately apparent and recorded on the public ledger.
• Objective Progress Tracking: Rather than relying on post-meeting interpretations of what was discussed or agreed upon, a blockchain-based system would provide a transparent record of commitments, actions, and adherence to stated objectives.
• Neutral Verification Mechanisms: Instead of competing narratives about what transpired in diplomatic exchanges, all participants and observers could independently verify what was discussed and agreed upon through an immutable record.

From Tongan Micro-Governance to International Diplomatic Standards

This application of blockchain principles to diplomacy builds upon concepts I explored in my whitepaper "Decentralized Micro-Governance Model for the Kingdom of Tonga Based on Proof-of-Work Consensus." In that model, governance processes are stabilized through cryptographic verification, ensuring participants remain faithful to established procedures and objectives.

Applied to international relations, this framework would ensure diplomatic engagements remain focused on their intended purpose. When peace is the stated objective, the technological architecture would make it difficult to divert the conversation toward unrelated positioning or rhetoric that undermines the peace process.

The recent Oval Office incident demonstrates the need for such a system. In a proof-of-work diplomatic framework, the original mandate for peace would have remained the central focus, with any attempt to redirect the conversation immediately visible to all stakeholders.

Beyond Rhetoric: Diplomacy Anchored in Verifiable Reality

When Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin to the world, they provided a framework for verification that transcends human tendencies toward inconsistency and bias. This same framework could transform how nations engage with one another on the world stage.

Imagine if the recent Oval Office meeting had been conducted within a blockchain-based diplomatic framework:

• The peace agenda would have been cryptographically secured as the foundation of the engagement

• Any departure from discussing peace initiatives would have been immediately flagged within the system

• Commitments made would be recorded in an immutable ledger, allowing for subsequent verification of follow-through

  
  

Instead of leaving room for competing interpretations about what was discussed or agreed upon, both leaders and the global public would have access to an objective record of the exchange.

A New Path Forward for International Relations

In a world where diplomatic engagements frequently stray from their stated purpose, where peace initiatives can quickly become geopolitical positioning, we need more than good intentions and traditional protocols. We need diplomatic relations anchored by the same principles that have made Bitcoin revolutionary: transparency, verification, and immutability.

One verifiable commitment at a time, we can build a new international order. Not vulnerable to agenda drift or reinterpretation, but founded on the objective reality of what was actually discussed and agreed upon.

That's not just more effective diplomacy. That's a fundamental reimagining of how nations interact to address our most pressing global challenges. That's the power of proof-of-work applied to the pursuit of genuine peace.