British Territory Of Gibraltar To Use Blockchain To Deliver Public Services

Gibraltar said it will use blockchain technology to deliver public services, taking a significant step in digitizing the eGov system it began earlier this year.

Gibraltar, a self-governing British overseas territory on the south coast of Spain, said Tuesday that the program will be set up with the help of Latin American crypto exchange Bitso and RSK blockchain developer IOVlabs.

"The proposed blockchain solution will build upon and enhance the functionality of Gibraltar’s eGov system, with the focus of the initial phase being to enable users to store government-issued and certified credentials," a statement read.

Gibraltar has been grooming itself as a blockchain and cryptocurrency hub ever since it introduced legislation around Distributed-Ledger-Technology (DLT) in January 2018.

Albert Isola, minister for digital and financial services, said blockchain would help enhance communication between the government and the people. He added that the process of digitising many other services began earlier this year and he was confident that RSK Blockchain will "serve as a solid foundation on which to build the intended programme of services in a coordinated and phased manner further complimenting the work already undertaken."

Gibraltar is one of the few administrations that have warmed to the emerging tech even as big economies such as China and India have either banned or tightened control over decentralized digital currencies. The Central American country of El Salvador is one of the first countries to adopt Bitcoin as its official currency, still maintaining the U.S. dollar as an official mode of transaction. The country added a load of 100 Bitcoins to its treasury in November, with the plans of expansion.