The use of blockchain technology is required for vaccine passports to function

Vaccines are starting to offer hope of normal life, economic resurgence, and renewed global connections. The EU has implemented its Covid-19 digital passport for all citizens and residents to enable freedom of movement across borders on July 1. However, many international leaders have been out of step, applying yesterday's answers to tomorrow's issues as they consider the dangers and rewards of reopening their borders.

Covid passports on offer are functional but short-sighted, says Dr. Andrew Wightman. He argues that a globally recognized standard is needed to facilitate international travel and to restore our economies in a post-covid world. In the past year, Dark Web marketplaces have seen a surge in listings for fake vaccine passports.

Blockchain's distributed ledger stores data in a decentralized way, removing the need for governments to maintain databases at a national level. The technology has the potential to resolve many of these challenges, yet is astonishingly under-utilized by many countries such as Estonia. Blockchain technology and infrastructure is no longer new, yet is still poorly understood by decision-makers. Asian countries are leading the charge to integrate it into the travel verification process. Singapore is poised at the front of this movement and should look to partner other innovative Asian countries.

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To boost trade, Africa is simplifying international payment systems

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Blockchain holds the key to a globally trusted coronavirus vaccine passport

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