Estcoins – e-residency Scheme
The anticipation with regards to Estonia’s crypto-currency existing online which are not controlled by any central bank or government has gained new heights since the value of bitcoin had reached above $4,000 (£3,100). Estonia desires to issue its own virtual currency with the support of Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin.Estonia which is a country that takes pride on being at the cutting edge of digital technology has been speculating with the idea of a currency known as estcoins which would be connected to its successful e-residency scheme giving foreigners with an opportunity of starting business in the digital identity of Estonia.
The same had been successful wherein Kaspar Korjus Managing director at e-Residency, Enterprise, Estonia and the one in charge of the scheme had disclosed recently that the numbers signing up had crossed the birth-rate of Estonia.
He wished to take advantage of this opportunity of interest by providing e-residents digital tokens which could be utilised when they would access several services or engage in transfers between businesses. He acknowledged that this seems to be a fantastic idea and that it would involve discussions with all kinds of government bodies.
He was of the opinion that the central bank of Estonia could be doubtful with regards to having a complete new currency running beside the euro.
Evade Tax/Money Laundering
The supporters of crypto-currency could also be cautious of a scheme which tends to run counter to the entire liberal character behind bitcoin together with its followers. Mr Korjus however informs that the government cannot only sit back and watch the new financial technology being implemented. On the contrary rather than attempting in stopping things as usual, government needs to explore ways of regulating and improving systems which would work and which individuals would prefer.
One of the reasons for bringing it in was that crypto-currency can be utilised in evading tax or for money laundering. By securing estcoins to a digital identity, Estonia expects to avoid that issue. Recently, Izabella Kaminska, the special guest of the Financial Times had pointed out that this did not sound different from conventional currency and what would be the need of reinventing the wheel.
The crypto-currency would be launched through the version of crowdfunding of digital coin community which is an initial coin offering – ICO that permits start-ups in raising funds by selling off cryptocoins like bitcoins and ether in exchange for cash. They are said to be identical to initial public offerings – IPOs though tend to differ wherein in dealing with supporters of a project they make the investment more personal.
E-Residency Ecosystem – Generating Strong Incentive Alignment
The small eastern country is not new to the digital innovation and had been the first country in offering citizens of the world `e-residency’ which is a digital ID for non-Estonians with the provision of access to services such as banking, payment processing together with taxation.
Korjus had mentioned in a blog post that `a government-supported ICO would be giving more people with a bigger stake in the future of the country providing not just investment but also more expertise together with ideas in assisting them to grow exponentially’. Korjus had informed that Vitalik Buterin the founder of the blockchain network Ethereum in 2014, is a strong supporter of the digital innovation of Estonia and has offered feedback on its estcoin proposal.
Buterin had mentioned that `an ICO within the e-residency ecosystem would be generating strong incentive alignment between e-residents and this fund as well as beyond the economic aspects, would make the e-residents feel more of a community as there are more things they could perform together’.
Easy & Convenient for Use
Buterin had also mentioned in his blog post that besides this, if the crypto-currency is allotted on top of a blockchain, they would probably be issued in numerous formats at the same time, and nothing would be erroneous with this. It would then be easy as well as convenient in utilising them within smart contracts together with the other applications.
Blockchains are said to be distributed legers which tend to function as the foundation for digital coin business deal. Korjus had mentioned that over 22,000 e-residents from `138 countries had signed up for the initiative making a huge contribution to the economy of Estonia.
The President of Estonian, Kersti Kaljulaid, last month had informed that her nation had been the only truly digital society, strengthened by the state. She had mentioned in an article for the Telegraph that nearly all the interactions of the citizens with the government, inclusive of voting could be done securely online and that their e-residents could incorporate as well as run their businesses in Estonia without the need of having to set foot there. She further added that seeing this digital revolution up close has made her query whether the state that they know today is fit for the 21st century.
