I used to keep secrets for a living and I'm still very good at it because if you don't keep secrets, people stop telling you cool things.
However, there was one secret that I often let spill because it was my own. The true purpose of the Blue Rock Organization was to help usher in the world of transparent accounting. Transparent meaning the financial records/transactions of the public institutions (universities, public offices, government etc) should be accessible to all. They are funded by the public thus making Freedom of Information Act request and all the labor around that simply TRYING to understand where the hell the money is going is utter insanity and a waste of time and resources for all involved.
Which is why Transparent Accounting should be a thing.
This was a hard sell when I and others who believe this tried to pitch it. Now, not so much, especially because the Universe has a fondness for messing with me (https://paragraph.com/@dunsmoor.eth/the-universe-is-messing-with-me). Three events in my home state of South Carolina make that painfully clear and highlight that this isn't a one-off claim. This is fundamentally broken and needs to change. Transparent accounting would allow for financial records to be tracked and eventually conducted on chain and for no better reason that to reduce tax payer spending on these messes while providing an open and honest accounting of the facts for all to see.
The alleged misuse of $53,000 by Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright: Wright has been sheriff in Spartanburg since 2005 and in April 2024 he is being investigated, among other things, for the alleged and possible misuse of approximately $53,000 in funds from the county and people of Spartanburg. Wright has expressed his innocence on this matter and others. Sheriff Chuck Wright repaid $1,111 of $53K credit card tab. He hasn't explained the amount., March 31, 2025; https://www.postandcourier.com/spartanburg/news/spartanburg-sheriff-wright-credit-card-apple-games/article_3e5c8a01-fb6f-4964-9030-b938d561ad71.html
Limestone University Closes after 179 years: Limestone University, a beautiful campus my brother had the opportunity to help build and my nephew had a golf scholarship to, is closing its doors after 179 years because they couldn't come up with a couple million to stay open. Countless lives have been changed because of this "error." A South Carolina college could close after 179 years if it can’t find $6 million by Tuesday, April 19, 2025; https://www.wkbn.com/news/national-world/a-south-carolina-college-could-close-after-179-years-if-it-cant-find-6-million-by-tuesday/
South Carolina "Finds" $1.8 Billion: I've lost a lot of things in my life but never have I ever misplaced $1.8 billion dollars. With a "B," not an "M." This was allegedly due to the Comptroller not properly tracking everything. In November 2023, South Carolina officials discovered these previously unreported funds, which led to the resignation of Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom in March 2023. South Carolina has it! But the State's accountant didn't know they had it which is almost as scary as "losing" it. State Treasurer Curtis Loftis issues response to $1.8Billion, March 28, 2024 https://treasurer.sc.gov/about-us/newsroom/state-treasurer-curtis-loftis-issues-response-to-18billion/
All three of these events could have been prevented because of transparent accounting. But it doesn't end there, the Pentagon hasn't been able to pass an audit since comprehensive audits began in 2018. Fact Check: Has the Pentagon failed its 7th audit in a row?, December 20, 2024; https://econofact.org/factbrief/has-the-pentagon-failed-its-7th-audit-in-a-row
Both Democrats and Republicans, two sides not known for getting along especially right now, both agree that this is unacceptable but nothing has been done to resolve it. Now do I want to have intimate access to all the sneaky stuff my government does? No. We still have fiat for that. But I do want a general idea of who is "buggering" up and how to fix that problem before a sheriff gets his name dragged through it, a university shuts down, or some state agency loses track of a couple billion, or much, much worse.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant after all.
As I argued in my earlier essay, Fire, The Wheel, Blockchain & Artificial Intelligence, blockchain isn't just another new tech trend. (https://paragraph.com/editor/ZKMXqf1ETwV16H2Sol5E) It's a phase shift, an evolutionary milestone like fire or the wheel. Immutable ledgers aren't just helpful; they're necessary if we want trustworthy public systems. It's never more clear than in moments like these, when institutions can "lose" track of billions. We're not dealing with bad accounting; we're facing a systemic failure of trust. The solution isn't more bureaucracy. It's blockchain.
That was the mission of Blue Rock. And now, like a star going supernova to give rise to something greater, Blue Rock has reached its heat death. The mission is complete. It's time to build the next layer.
We're launching a new nonprofit, one with a three-stage rocket aimed at building a freer, more transparent world. We'll share more in the coming months as we load the rocket and finish the reorganization. Just know this: we're going far. And as the old African proverb says, if you want to go far, go together.
This will take all of us.
Because this time, we're not just building tools. We're building a world worth not hiding from and making you wealthier in every sense of the word after this three stage rocket has launched.
Want to join our mission for transparent accounting? Here's how:
Follow the South Carolina Emerging Technology Association for the release of our whitepaper (Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southcarolinaeta/ and Twitter/X: https://x.com/libertyntech)
Subscribe to this newsletter so that you can keep up with what's to come: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/809890/112180992817497665/share
Check out NFT.NYC for more on Verified Claims as we bring truth on chain at VerifiedClaims.xyz
The future of transparent accounting needs people like you who understand both the problem and the potential solutions. Together, we can build institutions worthy of trust because like the inevitable heat death of the star we call our sun, the continued need to hold those in power accountable cannot be overstated, especially with public funds.
Buckle up, baby.
Jonathan Dunsmoor
