Turkey to use blockchain-based digital identity for online public services
Shortly after its central bank completed its first CBDC tests, Turkey announced a blockchain-based digital identity application.
Turkey plans to use blockchain technology during the login process for online public services. E-Devlet, Turkey’s digital government portal used to access a wide range of public services, will use a blockchain-based digital identity to verify Turkish citizens during login.
Fuat Oktay, the vice president of Turkey, announced during the Digital Turkey 2023 event that citizens will be able to use blockchain-based digital identity to access e-wallet applications, Cointelegraph Turkey reported.
Oktay called the blockchain-based application a revolution for e-government efforts, adding that online services will be more secure and accessible with blockchain. Users will be able to keep their digital information on their mobile phones.
“With the login system that will work within the scope of the e-wallet application, our citizens will be able to enter the e-Devlet with a digital identity created in the blockchain network,” the vice president said.
Related: Turkey’s central bank completes first CBDC test with more to come in 2023
Turkey has announced several projects powered by blockchain over the years, but very few have been realized yet. The country’s plans for a national blockchain infrastructure date back to 2019. However, aside from some proof-of-concept projects and its central bank digital currency test — executed after several delays — its blockchain ambitions have yet to bear fruits.
As of January 2020, Turkey’s cultural hub of Konya was developing a “City Coin” project to be used by citizens to pay for public services, but no further updates have been shared with the public in the last two years.
