фото показано с : blokt.com

The Central Bank of Bahamas has officially announced plans to introduce a national cryptocurrency, as well as blockchain-powered digitization of Bahama’s government and financial services. The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest on Friday, June 22, during the Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference.

The Bahamas hopes that the digitization of government and financial services in the country could end or at least curb one of the nation’s biggest problems — corruption. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest is optimistic that blockchain, the technology powering cryptocurrencies, can be used to put up a streamlined, tamper-proof yet transparent system in place for government services that could eliminate middlemen and bribery:

“Using technology and single points of contact we’re able to eliminate a lot of the human element that facilitates corruption, and so when we talk about applying for government services, if we have a single portal for entry and all of the processing being done behind the scenes, either through electronic data interchange or through human facilitation we can eliminate that point where we Bahamians call it, you have to tip somebody in order to get service.”

Deputy Prime Minister Turnquest expressed optimism that utilizing blockchain in the digitization of government and financial services in the country could result in a highly efficient system that will benefit both its citizens and the nation’s businesses. Turnquest already unveiled a grand vision where blockchain-powered record-keeping system is the norm, where people can share any data securely. And their recipients can then verify the data’s authenticity with ease.

In fact, it is hoped in the future that students who finished their studies at the National Training Agency will be issued digital certificates of completion. Should these students wish to attach these digital certificates in their application letters, employers can readily verify their authenticity against the national records in a matter of seconds.

The potential application of this blockchain-powered national system is even grander in scope than mere digital certificates, as revealed by the Deputy Prime Minister:

“Even though it is at a very preliminary form, the government is looking to see other ways in which certificates such as business licenses, passports, national insurance can make use of blockchain technology to enable persons to maintain their data and share it in a secure and verifiable way.”

The Bahamas is an archipelagic nation composed of more than 700 islands. Understandably, not all of these islands have access to the financial services offered by commercial banks as these banks would not put up branches in areas with low population density. Coupled with a poor transportation network, going to banks to avail of their services can be very inconvenient to citizens, especially for the elderly, who are living in the outlying islands. It is the Deputy Prime Minister’s wish to give everyone access to financial services with the introduction of the central-bank-backed cryptocurrency and a digital payment service and platform that is both secure and easy to use.

Turnquest explained:

“The production of a modern fully digital payment service is the way forward for this era of governance. A digital Bahamian currency is especially important for the many family islands as they have seen many commercial banks downsize and pull out of their communities, leaving them without banking services. As an island nation, where transportation can be an inconvenience for many, especially the elderly, and costly, we must offer financial services digitally and securely.”

Bahamas to Introduce Own Crypto, Aims to Digitize Government, Financial Services was originally found on [blokt] - Blockchain, Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

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