Poland explores blockchain technology through government digital unit

Rage Review : Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs, driven by European regulators, released a more extensive digitalization plan last week to enable Poland to achieve a transition from text to digital. Such a plan can effectively promote the development of digital public services, cashless solutions and the implementation of electronic identity verification (elD) services. Since the Polish Ministry of Finance issued a statement in December 2013 that digital currency and blockchain technology are illegal, in February this year, the Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs issued a strategic document that Bitcoin, blockchain and Internet of Things technology can promote national development. Poland's attitude towards blockchain has undergone a 360-degree change.

Translation: Nicole

Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs is taking steps to advance the development of digital currencies and blockchain technology.

The agency announced last week a wider digitalisation plan, which comes amid pressure from European regulators to better understand nascent technologies. Called "Poland from text to digital", the plan will boost the development of digital public services, cashless solutions and the implementation of electronic identification (eID) services.

Apparently, one of these areas of focus will be “blockchain and digital currencies,” an initiative that aims to “find regulatory, legal and economic solutions” that would allow digital currency projects to remain competitive in European countries.

The potential rules, which are in their early stages, are intended to keep users safe while giving regulators the power to oversee the project.

The project, like other international projects, heralds an important change in the Polish government's approach to emerging technologies.

Ever since representatives of the Polish Ministry of Finance issued a statement in December 2013 that Bitcoin "is illegal," the government has remained relatively silent on matters related to digital currencies and their underlying technology, blockchain.

However, in February, Poland’s Ministry of Digital Affairs released a strategic document that mentioned Bitcoin and blockchain as well as Internet of Things technologies as a way to boost national development.

The announcement comes after extensive talks between the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the Polish Bitcoin and Blockchain technology industry. The first working meeting last month saw Minister Anna Strezyńska and other civil servants in dialogue with the Polish Bitcoin Association, digital currency companies, academies and lawyers.

A second meeting is expected to take place in July.