By
Kseniia Klichova
April 29th, 2024
Although there are not specifics, a few US states are looking to Cardano to help with election transparency by applying blockchain to voting.
Several US states have reportedly reached out to the Cardano Foundation to discuss developing a voting system powered by blockchain technology. According to Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard, these states are looking to conduct more transparent elections.
Cardano Discussing Blockchain Voting Platform
Speaking in an interview with DailyCoin, Gregaard said:
“We have been approached by a couple of states in the US, saying, ‘Hey can you help us to do a lightweight blockchain solution to make [voting] more transparent and accountable?”
Gregaard also hinted at similar efforts in the UK. However, he said the Cardano Foundation is still trying to figure out whether or not the solution is possible in the timeframe the states want. The CEO ended the interview without saying how many states the Foundation is discussing with, or what states are involved.
Over time, enthusiasts have touted blockchain voting as an impressive application of the technology. With an experienced entity like Cardano trying to lead the charge in the US, the likelihood of a feasible solution is high.
Cardano Foundation, like several other decentralized blockchain companies, has found ways to implement blockchain-based voting into its processes to democratize decision-making. For instance, Cardano uses Catalyst, a platform that enables ADA holders to discuss proposals and vote on network projects. The platform is an important part of the Cardano ecosystem and has been responsible for promoting decentralization across efforts like decision-making and funding rounds for some time. However, creating a blockchain voting system would require more specifics than usual, especially for state-wide voting.
Cardano may also face some competition if the blockchain voting idea becomes more popular in the US. For instance, there is a chance that states have approached other blockchain networks, like Solana, to create a similar platform. These networks may also reach out to the states, giving Cardano more competition to worry about.
Cardano Activity
Nonetheless, the Cardano network has been very active and might be capable of performing the forthcoming task. Already, developer activity on Cardano has increased recently and surpassed that of Ethereum. IntoTheBlock (ITB) data shows that between March 11 and 17, Cardano logged 978,780 commits on GitHub, 140% more than Ethereum’s 407,170 commits. This suggests that developers now recognize Cardano as an attractive network with opportunities similar to Ethereum.
Cardano’s reach has also extended to fighting crime, as the Foundation recently partnered with the Dubai Police on a pilot project. During the World Police Summit last month, the Dubai Police presented a Cardano project that uses blockchain technology to securely share sensitive data with other law enforcement authorities like Interpol. Using this platform ensures that law enforcement can take advantage of blockchain technology and collaborate with other institutions worldwide.
Other Cardano updates include USDM, a fiat-backed stablecoin developed by Mehen Finance. According to Mehen founding partner Matthew Plomin, the solution hit a roadblock last year when the Cross River Bank it was working with decided to join forces with Circle instead. Mehen then partnered with fintech solution Plaid until it finalized and launched USDM.