I read the coalition Agreement today. And while reading I discovered a few lines, which gave me a positive feeling about something. The Blockchain is in the coalition agreement.
Blockchain in the coalition Agreement
Germany is still in the government formation, but the coalition Agreement stands.
I have to admit, I was a bit surprised, cause a few years back Merkel didn’t even knew there was the Internet.
Here are the few points in which the blockchain is mentioned:
Digital competence for all citizens!
Under the heading "Digital literacy for all citizens" is the term "Blockchain" mentioned the first time and in lines 1775 to 1789 of the coalition agreement.
"The high-tech strategy will be further developed and focused on the major social challenges. In doing so, we will develop new tools to promote innovation and knowledge for the economy. Comprehensive open technology in research funding is an important basic principle of our research policy. We need a training and research offensive in all digitalization fields. We consider innovation, digital sovereignty and interdisciplinarity to be particularly important. We want to further strengthen the focus of microprocessor technology and IT security. Other areas of research include artificial intelligence, data science, digital humanities and blockchain technology, robotics and quantum computing. Today, data science has to be expanded in all areas, but especially in universities. For this, the handling of data must become a central field of science and discipline. We accompany the digital transformation as an overall social development and political design process especially with the work of the Weizenbaum Institute. "
It is the first step of the possibly new federal government to recognize the Blockchain-Technology and classify it as eligible. In this context, one can expect that more capital will soon flow into this area. This not only affects private investors, but also taxpayers' money. In addition, the government has also announced large grants, tax optimisations and other things for start-ups and FinTechs elsewhere. Of course, this includes all companies that have the blockchain technology as a basis and product.
Competitive economy!
Then it goes on in the lines 1932 to 1941. These are especially interesting for payment, if you read the quote.
"Coherent regulation and supervision should also help to strengthen Germany's role as one of the leading digitization and FinTech locations. We will eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles and ensure that transactions with the same risks are regulated at the same time. To unlock the potential of blockchain technology and prevent abuses, we want to develop a comprehensive blockchain strategy and advocate an appropriate legal framework for cryptocurrency and token trading at European and international level. The possibilities of cashless payment are to be extended in the digital age. Anonymous payment with cash must remain possible. "
This quote already creates the framework for a future means of payment based on blockchain technology. The topic of anonymous payment makes one sit up, if one remembers that the previous course was a little different. Not least was the banking secrecy tipped and also the € 500 bill basically worthless. The recognition of tokens and cryptocurrencies seems to be within reach. In the end it always depends on the design of the law or on the implementation, but that leaves a positive impression. How the whole thing will be done at the end will be shown, but it is nice to read that the federal government will have a "blockchain strategy". However, it is also thrown in directly that the blockchain technology can be misused. However, one should keep in mind that this not only affects the citizen, but also the state.
Digital administration!
The goal is set, while I have always estimated 2020 as a goal, the year 2021 was spent in the coalition agreement. It's about bringing the administration up to date and using the technical possibilities. Here in lines 2021 to 2023.
"In the Federal Government, we will test innovative technologies such as Distributed Ledger (Blockchain), so that based on these experiences, a legal framework can be created."
That will save a lot of money and, above all, taxes, alone if one considers that the taxpayer is still burdened with a considerable effort. That alone from the point of view of the tax burden. While these investments will cost you money, you can take a step in the right direction here. This entire section is about reducing the burden on the citizen and making better use of resources. Also the target for a digital portal for the citizen. This could become reality, especially with the new ID card. Here is of course a look to Estonia the right one. After all, Estonia has had functioning eGovernment for years.
Industry
The Federal Government recognizes that digital technologies will also influence the industrial location of Germany in the future. Thus one can read in the lines 2578 to 2583 of the coalition contract of CDU, CSU and SPD.
"We intend to continue and expand existing application-based technology programs to promote cutting-edge digital technologies such as quantum computing, robotics, autonomous systems, augmented reality (3D virtualization), blockchain, visible light communication, and smart home. At the same time, together with our French partners, we will establish a publicly responsible artificial intelligence center. "
These points leaveing me with a positive atitude about blockchain and how the govenrment will handle it, but one must also reveal the criticism that this artificial intelligence can also be used abusive. This can be, for example, in the context of law enforcement or tax evasion.
Conclusion
Cryptocurrencies, tokens, blockchain technology and ICO have arrived in the federal government. The attitude is positive and can breathe the Bitcoin user and Bitcoin holder. A ban in Germany seems to be off the table and the topic Bitcoin is not regulated dead. Although it is not yet certain that the new federal government will come about in this way, one must expect that the points mentioned will also find their way into the next contract. These topics around Bitcoin and Blockchain will continue to influence politics, media, industry as well as users in the near future. One can only hope that it will come as it is written, otherwise Germany could miss the international connection in the field of blockchain technology.