Türkiye to use blockchain-based digital identity for online public services

Türkiye, formerly known as Turkey, plans to use blockchain technology for online public services logins. e-Devlet, Türkiye’s digital government portal used to access a wide range of public services, will use a blockchain-based digital identity to verify Turkish citizens during login.

Fuat Oktay, vice president of the Republic of Türkiye, announced during the Digital Türkiye 2023 event that citizens will be able to use blockchain-based digital identity to access e-wallet application, Cointelegraph Turkey reported.

Oktay called the blockchain-based application a revolution for e-government efforts, adding that online services will be more secure and accessible with blockchain. Users will be able to keep their digital information on their mobile phones.

“With the login system that will work within the scope of the e-wallet application, our citizens will be able to enter the e-Devlet with a digital identity created in the blockchain network,” the Turkish vice president said.

Related: Turkey’s central bank completes first CBDC test with more to come in 2023

Türkiye has been announcing several projects powered by blockchain for several years now, but very few of them have turned into realization so far. The country’s plans for a national blockchain infrastructure date back to 2019. However, aside from some proof-of-concept projects and the central bank digital currency test executed after several delays, the fruits of blockchain-based ambitions have yet to bear.

Türkiye’s cultural hub of Konya was developing a city coin project to be used by citizens to pay for public services, but no further updates were shared with the public in the last two years.