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Big banks testing blockchain-powered digital identity network developed by Toronto company

March 20th, 2017  |  Canadian Business

Blockchain has burst onto the scene in the last few years as the consensus 'next big thing.' But its full emergence as an everyday part of our lives could happen sooner than we think.

The Financial Post has reported that Canada's biggest banks are in the process of testing a blockchain-powered digital identity network that could be accessed through a mobile app. Developed by the Toronto-based SecureKey Technologies in partnership with IBM, the network could be greatly impactful if implemented properly.

Having this technology available would allow consumers to bypass some of the more cumbersome steps involved in making certain important purchases—specifically, those that require unique identification and documentation. As long as that information has been uploaded to the network, it can then be conveniently accessed by the user when a need for it arises.

This project represents a major partnership in the Canadian financial and technical landscapes. In addition to the development team of SecureKey and IBM, this endeavour has been given lots of advance support by banks, who will be its primary benefactor (along with their customers). There are a total of 12 partners involved at this point, including RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, and Desjardins.

SecureKey chief executive Greg Wolfond commented on the sort of unifying effect this network could have.

"To do this in Canada, we're kind of aligning an ecosystem of banks and telcos and governments to say, let's work together on a standard that makes it safer for all citizens, but also easier to get things done," Wolfond said.

We'll just have to wait and see if he's right.