Blockchain Notary

A blockchain-based service that secures and stores an online distributed proof-of-existence for any document, as well as proof-of-ownership and document ownership transfer. This protocol is used to issue birth and marriage certificates, proof-of-identity, working licenses, healthcare access, and even property sale records, remotely or in loco.

While not serving as document storage, documents and files are instead time-stamped and assigned a digital fingerprint within the blockchain to prevent unauthorized tampering and modification. It allows a public verification of the document’s date, authenticity, origin, integrity, and content without publicly disclosing the content itself. Biometric identification such as fingerprints could be used as a digital signature (or private key in cryptography terms) to prove that an individual is the owner of a particular document.

Gender Equality

Challenges

• Without a customary gendered framework, it may be hard to understand any gender gaps in usage.

• It may be hard to automate the compliance of information stored within the blockchain.

Opportunities

• Help with immigration, specifically for refugees that often lack any meaningful form of identification.

• Can target donor resources straight to women, through their own private key to access the funds received.