Canadian Research Body Pilots Ethereum in Transparency Push

The National Research Council of Canada is trialing the ethereum blockchain for recording government contracts.

AccessTimeIconJan 22, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 13, 2021 at 7:24 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), a government initiative, is trialing the ethereum blockchain for recording government contracts.

For the pilot, the NRC is using the Catena platform from blockchain startup Bitaccess for publishing information on government grants and contributions over the open-source blockchain.

The effort is part of a move to make the government's administration boost transparency, according to a press release. The NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program is the first entity to test the technology, and is already releasing contributions information. The group will also assess how the government can apply blockchain technology in other areas.

Bitaccess co-founder Moe Adham said in a blog post that the company built its Catena Blockchain Suite to help organizations become familiar with using the technology.

He explained:

"Our goal is to enable institutions to become fully transparent, and enable constituents to participate in the verification and validation of public information."

While notable, this is not the first official body in the country to foray into blockchain technology. The Canadian central bank has already begun experimenting with blockchain-based platforms, particularly with settlement systems, as previously reported by CoinDesk.

The Bank of Canada's "Project Jasper," now in its third phase, has conducted research into securities settlements and resiliency under periods of stress.

Canadian flags image via Shutterstock

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.