The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded Virginia-based Digital Bazaar $199,984 to develop its blockchain security technology, according to a press release, Nov. 14. The Department’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) made the Phase 1 award, as it explores blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) solutions to fulfill common needs across DHS missions. Replacing paper-based systems Through U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the DHS issues, validates and verifies licenses and certifications for travel, citizenship, immigration and employment eligibility. Many of these processes are paper-based, do not allow …

The Republic of Azerbaijan is planning to complete a project of blockchain-based digital identification system by the end of 2019. Farid Osmanov, director of the information technology department at the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), says that the new system will be adopted in the first quarter of 2020, local news agency Trend News reported on Nov. 6. “Transition of the CBA to open banking” According to the report, the CBA executive introduced the plans speaking at the fourth International Banking Forum. Osmanov reportedly highlighted the system’s prospects in terms of security of personal data transferred to credit organizations as …

Five major automakers — BMW, General Motors, Ford, Renault and Honda — will start testing a blockchain car identification and payment system next month in the United States. Automakers envision self-paying cars, digital IDs Nikkei Asian Review reported on Oct. 14 that the partnership aims to test the vehicle ID system developed under the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative. As part of the project, cars are assigned digital IDs linked to ownership, service history and a wallet allowing the vehicle to automatically pay fees without specialized hardware. The alliance reportedly envisions the system being applied to connected electric vehicles so tolls, …

Overstock’s venture capital arm Medici Ventures has made a $2 million investment into Salt Lake City-based Evernym, a startup that develops blockchain-based self-sovereign identity networks. Per a Sept. 26 press release, Medici invested $2 million into Evernym through participation in the company’s Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), closed on September 4, 2019. This allows Medici to convert its share in the SAFE to preferred stock in Evernym’s future priced round of equity financing. Development of digital credentials Evernym is planning to allocate the money for further development of its products such as creation of a decentralized ecosystem of digital …

The rapid onset of technological advancement is not evenly spread. Society is increasingly becoming digitally literate and uses emerging technology for work, to communicate and pay for things in ways unimaginable just 15 years ago. So, why are methods of governance largely unchanged since the invention of liberal democracy hundreds of years ago? Although many aspects of government remain entrenched in the past, one area is being brought into the 21st century: identity. With fears regarding third-party data abuse, citizens are more concerned than ever about how this affects their lives and their sovereignty. A number of innovative government departments …

A blockchain project says it is giving users full control over their identities as well as their personal and professional connections — and believes its technology has the potential to revolutionize countless industries. Internet of People (IOP) describes current online identity standards as a mess. Although the web is perceived to be a place where anonymity thrives, the project claims it is “virtually impossible to perform any action online with true privacy.” To compound the problem, the process of verifying one’s identity can be complicated — with power resting in the hands of centralized providers. The project intends to upend …

Catalonia's government has unveiled IdentiCAT, a decentralized identity system. President Quim Torra and Minister of Digital Policies and Administration Jordi Puigneró announced the project on Sept. 7, local media outlet VilaWeb reported. Notably, the government says it will not have access to citizens' data. Privacy protection The bidding for system development — which is expected to be completed by 2020 — will start shortly at €550,000 (nearly $607,000). Citizens using IdentiCAT will reportedly be able to choose what data they are willing to share with the government, and request it to store a portion of it and share it with …

The government of Sierra Leone plans to fully adopt a blockchain-enabled national identity system by the end of 2019. United Nations involved President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio reportedly claimed that the new infrastructure will allow financial institutions to verify identities and build credit histories, tech publication NFCW reported on Sept. 2. The new project, called the National Digital Identity Platform (NDIP), is a collaboration between the United Nations and San Francisco-based nonprofit Kiva, a key technology partner of Sierra Leone since September 2018. According to the report, the NDIP is being deployed in two major stages. The first …

A new partnership between a development bank, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) and a tech corporation is eyeing the creation of a blockchain-based identity system to improve financial inclusion in Buenos Aires. IDB Lab (the Innovation Laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group), NGO Bitcoin Argentina and the Argentine subsidiary of NEC Corporation announced they had signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue the project on Aug. 26. Using blockchain to tackle the poverty penalty As NEC’s news release outlines, data from the Buenos Aires City Government reveals that 16.2% of the city's inhabitants live below the poverty line. This economic …

A Singaporean startup, Limestone Network, is using blockchain to sustain a smart neighbourhood at the heart of the Cambodian capital. As Tech in Asia reports on August 14, the 100-hectare mixed-use development in Phnom Penh encompasses residential properties, offices, retail centers, schools and a large-scale exhibition hall: it counts 10,000 business tenants and a daily population of 190,000. Limestone emerged from the first round of startups in the Singaporean government’s blockchain Tribe Accelerator, backed by government agency Enterprise Singapore. Digital passports and wallets At the heart of the Phnom Penh project is a blockchain-powered ID system, which creates a digital …

Cryptocurrency payment processor BitPay is introducing new identity verification measures for certain high-value payments, refunds and payouts. According to an Aug. 1 announcement from the United States-based firm, the new measures notably do not apply to person-to-person payments using the BitPay and Copay apps. Photo ID, Social Security number BitPay is rolling out its new ID verification flow as part of a new BitPay Dashboard, which will function as a personalized home page that provides access to users’ transaction histories and various payment features. With the launch of BitPay ID, users will be required to undergo a one-time verification process …

The United States Department of Commerce is looking to hire a computer scientist specializing in blockchain and identity management. According to a job listing from Aug. 9, the federal agency is seeking someone with at least one year of specialized experience in developing blockchain infrastructure and conducting research into blockchain technologies, crypto ledgers and crypto contracts. Focus on identity management and crypto tokens The Department of Commerce’s listing hints at the future hire’s duties and responsibilities in general terms, revealing only that they will be tasked with research and development into potentially disruptive technologies at the department’s Information Technology Laboratory. …