MNCs and big consultants are well known to use heavyweight lobbying techniques to twist national policies in a manner that suit their interests. This is even more valid in the context of new technologies where governments usually lack the required domain skills and perspectives to make meaningful judgements. This appears to be the case with Cryptocurrencies and Blockchains.
The arguments being presented to make cryptocurrencies illegal is that they have no real value and can be used for Ponzi schemes and other such inappropriate or illegal operations. True. But then the Rupee is also used for Ponzi schemes such as chit business and various rackets. Does that mean that the Rupee should be banned? No, one bans ponzi investment schemes, not the Rupee. No rational arguments have yet been presented on why cryptocurrencies should be banned. Why not provide regulatory sandboxes and give entrepreneurs the freedom to test and present their case. With Blockchain based crypto currencies, one can publically store hash of information which can be later verified. This time stamping and hash information in public block chain can be used to verify time stamp of data.
The underlying technology in cryptocurrencies is Blockchain. While these MNCs rally against cryptocurrencies, they are pushing blockchain technology in a big way. But then here is the catch. No one has asked MNC company to show the source code of their Blockchain technology. Originally, Blockchain source code is public MIT license. It's very interesting that no one asks these MCNS to open the blockchain source codes. Can open source code like Blockchain be made into closed source code by MNCs?
MNCs claim that the blockchain(technically it's a DLT) is not charged. They charge only for "consulting,support and services"!
Why do governments need to invest millions and transfer wealth to MNCs and big consultants who already have fat wallets? The concept of private Blockchains is going to drain money from governments around the world. Fancy multiple databases across different stake holders – this is what is being presented as private blockchains. Why not instead governments develop software which run on public blockchain? Such applications can be written for US $ 200,000 to US $ 300,000 instead of the US $ 10 mn or so that fat cat consultants and MNCs will charge for private blockchains?
Some one scared everyone banks can't put data(even hash) on public blockchain. You don't need crypto currency to use public blockchain.
Will Governments including the Indian Government wake up? Especially at a time when there is so much demand on public exchequers from the poor and the needy.
(J Prasanna is founder of Cyber security and privacy foundation. This articles is their personal view)
