Some counties in northern Nevada have reportedly been using blockchain technology to store a digital version of government records, including birth and marriage certificates. The blockchain of choice is that of Ethereum.
Marriage Certificates on the Blockchain
Washoe County in Nevada has devised a digital marriage certificate program which uses the Ethereum blockchain to store digital versions of government records – reports Reno Gazette-Journal.
Supposedly, the program has already served around 950 customers by the end of 2018. Additionally, Elko County is also testing blockchain to create certified digital copies of birth certificates.
The news caught the attention of Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin.
“I actually think ultra-high-assurance storage of very small but high-value files is a totally legitimate use case for public blockchains. Great to see Nevada experimenting with Ethereum for this.” – Tweeted Buterin.
I actually think ultra-high-assurance storage of very small but high-value files is a totally legitimate use case for public blockchains. Great to see Nevada experimenting with ethereum for this.https://t.co/esq26rQ6HW pic.twitter.com/C2QAssQgT5
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 8, 2019
Blockchain Technology in Public Fields
Washoe County’s digital marriage certificate program is not the first case of public authorities recognizing the merits of blockchain technology.
Earlier in 2018, Live Bitcoin News reported that Chilean parliamentarians Giorgio Jackson and Miguel Angel Calisto presented a resolution before the country’s lower house of Parliament. They suggest implementing the technology within all of the public fields of the country.
…with this technology we could also transparently and unalterably track the management and work carried out by the different public agencies, with their indicators and all the figures collected, reducing the possibility that this information is used maliciously with others. – Noted Calisto.
The Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan is also taking steps towards implementing blockchain, as well as smart contracts, to improve the country’s public services.
The second biggest state of the UAE – Dubai, is also working on a project dubbed “Smart Dubai”, aiming to launch a government-backed blockchain platform. Dubai has teamed up with tech mogul IBM on the project.
What do you think of the use of blockchain technology in public sectors? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!