Strategies for Adopting DLT/ Blockchain Technologies in Arab Countries
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Arab Regional Fintech Working Group Strategies for adopting DLT/ Blockchain Technologies in Arab Countries No. 167 2021 Arab Regional Fintech Working Group Strategies for adopting DLT/ Blockchain Technologies in Arab Countries Arab Monetary Fund August 2021 Acknowledgement This policy guide was produced under the mandate of the Arab Regional Fintech Working Group (WG). The WG promotes the exchange of knowledge and expertise, strengthening the capacity of the Arab regulators, as well as building a network of Arab and international experts from the public and private sectors to promote the fintech industry and foster innovation. The “Strategies for adopting DLT/ Blockchain Technologies in Arab Countries” paper was by the following team: Dr. Ahmed Mansour Egypt Post – Executive Secretary General Dr. Houssem eddine Bedoui Islamic Development Bank Group – Head, Strategy Management and Policy (SMP) Unit Mr. Ishan Pandey KARM Legal Consultants – Legal Researcher Dr. Nouran Youssef Arab Monetary Fund – Senior Financial Specialist Mr. Ratul Roshan KARM Legal Consultants – Associate & Regulatory Advisor The document has benefited from valuable review, insightful comments and suggestions provided by Ms. Caroline Malcolm from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developmennt (OECD), Mr. Ahmed Faragallah and Mr. Raunak Mittal from the World Bank Group (WBG), and Ms. Khathryn White a Fellow with the World Economic Forum (WEF). Moreover, the authors extend appreciation to the Arab Central Banks members of the Arab Regional Fintech WG for their usefull comments. In addition, special thanks go to KARM legal Consultamts, member of the Arab Regional Fintech WG, for their contribution to this document. Any queries regarding this report should be addressed to: Nouran Youssef, Doctorate of Business Administration Senior Financial Sector Specialist, Arab Monetary Fund Financial Sector Development Division, Economic Department Corniche Street, P.O Box 2818, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Tel. +971 2161 477 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]. Website: www.amf.org.ae The opinions expressed in this policy paper are those of the authors from the Arab Regional Fintech WG members and do not necessarily reflect those of the entities they represent. Page 2 of 68 2 All rights reserved. ©2021 Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) Any reproduction, publication and reprint in the form of a different publication, whether printed or produced electronically, in whole or in part, is permitted only with the authorization of the AMF. Brief excerpts may be reproduced or translated provided the source is stated. Page 3 of 68 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 NOTION ON BLOCKCHAIN AND IT IS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE ........................ 7 1.1 OVERVIEW OF DLT............................................................................................................................ 7 1.2 HISTORY OF DLT ................................................................................................................................ 8 1.3 COMMON MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DLT AND BLOCKCHAIN ................. 8 2 GLOBAL AND REGIONAL BLOCKCHAIN INITIATIVES ...................................................... 9 2.1 AUSTRALIA – NATIONAL BLOCKCHAIN ROADMAP .................................................................... 9 2.2 ESTONIA BLOCKCHAIN INITIATIVES .............................................................................................10 2.3 INDIA – NATIONAL BLOCKCHAIN STRATEGY ..............................................................................11 2.4 MALTA – E GOVERNMENT AND REGULATIONS ............................................................................11 2.5 SINGAPORE – A FULL BLOCKCHAIN ECOSYSTEM ......................................................................12 2.6 EUROPEAN UNION .................................................................................................................................13 2.7 RUSSIAN FEDERATION - BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IS A PART OF THE ........................13 2.8 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE .....................................................................................................................................................................13 3 DLT/BLOCKCHAIN BUSINESS APPLICATIONS IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY ............. 14 4 RECOMMENDED POLICIES FOR ADOPTING DLT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL .......... 19 4.1 POTENTIAL BLOCKCHAIN GOVERNANCE STYLES ....................................................................19 4.1.1 Permissionless blockchain governance style........................................................................................21 4.1.2 Permissioned blockchain governance style .........................................................................................21 4.1.3 Hybrid blockchain governance style ....................................................................................................22 4.2 GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES .......................................................................................................22 4.2.1 TECHNICAL CHALLENGES ............................................................................................................22 4.2.2 GOVERNANCE AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES ................................................................23 4.3 PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ......................................................................................................24 4.4 SKILLS & AWARENESS AND SCOPE OF JOB CREATION ............................................................25 4.5 SHARED INTEROPERABLE BLOCKCHAIN SYSTEMS .................................................................26 4.5.1 What is Interoperability and why is it needed? ..................................................................................26 4.5.2 Proposed methods to achieve interoperability ....................................................................................26 4.5.3. Standardization as a means to achieve interoperability .....................................................................29 4.6 STANDARDS FOR BLOCKCHAIN SOLUTIONS DEVELOPMENT. ..........................................29 4.6.1 What are ‘standards’ and who sets them? ..........................................................................................29 Page 4 of 68 4 4.6.2 Why to have standards for DLT solution development? ...................................................................29 4.7 INTEGRATION WITH LEGACY SYSTEMS .......................................................................................32 4.8 INTEGRATION WITH OTHER SERVICES AS SMART CONTRACTS, DIGITAL SIGNATURE, KEY CUSTODY AND SECURITY SOLUTIONS .................................................................................33 4.8.1 Blockchain and smart contracts ...........................................................................................................34 4.8.2 Blockchain and digital records .............................................................................................................34 4.8.3 Blockchain and digital signature ..........................................................................................................34 4.8.4 Digital certificates ..................................................................................................................................34 4.8.5 Blockchain and KYC .............................................................................................................................35 4.8.6 Blockchain and land registration .........................................................................................................35 4.9 INTEGRATION WITH OTHER EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (AI, BIG DATA, INTERNET OF THINGS) ..............................................................................................................................................35 4.9.1 Blockchain Intelligence (Blockchain + AI) ..........................................................................................35 4.9.2 Benefits ...................................................................................................................................................35 4.9.3 Blockchain Of Things (Blockchain + IoT) ...........................................................................................36 4.9.4 Benefits ...................................................................................................................................................36 4.9.5 Blockchain And Big Data ......................................................................................................................36 4.9.6 Benefits ...................................................................................................................................................36 4.10 DATA INTEGRATION, MIGRATION AND MANAGEMENT ..........................................................37 4.10.1 Data integration .....................................................................................................................................37 4.10.2 Data management ..................................................................................................................................37 4.10.3 Data Migration ......................................................................................................................................38 4.11 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS & MECHANISMS ...........................................................................39