Canadian Senate Report Embedded in Blockchain

The recently released report by Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce on digital currency has been permanently etched in Bitcoin's Blockchain Blockchain Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned). In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data, making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamp Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned). In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data, making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamp Read this Term.

The action was done "mostly for fun, and partly as a nod to the community," according to a reddit user, who identified himself as a Bitcoin professional working out of Bitcoin Decentral in Toronto. He relates that he was approached by a Senate staffer seeking technical help to embed a short message on the report and its "proof of existence" into the blockchain.

He goes on to describe the different hashing options that were available and that his choice avoids "blockchain bloat" and is favorable for future retrieval.

The hashing was performed with a transaction of 0.0004 BTC ($0.01), spent from the following address:

1Canada8bND5eANJeJxYHV9jD8KHSzj1hF

Alberta Senator Doug Black, who sits on the Senate Committee, tweeted the following:

The blockchain is a real innovation. We published the Banking cmte report on digital currency & #bitcoin there today: https://t.co/yN9hAZYckG

— Senator Doug Black (@DougBlackAB) June 19, 2015

The report emphasized the importance of Canada taking a “lighter regulatory touch” on digital currency, highlighting the importance of not stifling innovation during this "delicate stage."

Putting it on the blockchain is the exclamation point in what can be seen as a marked shift in sentiment from one year ago, when there was greater focus on the risks posed by digital currency. Canada's FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre) budgeted $23 million to monitor virtual currencies, and issued an advisory on money services businesses dealing in them. The "Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act" was also amended to include virtual currency.

Policy makers are now better informed on the topic in general, and have become aware of the potential harnessed by blockchain technology, beyond its use for an anonymous currency. Like other countries, Canada is hoping to strike the right balance between Regulation Regulation Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Read this Term and innovation.