Not Bitcoin, but Blockchain: Russian government tests blockchain file management system

Russia’s government antitrust agency is testing a document management system based on blockchain technology.

The project, called “数字生态系统”（Digital Ecosystem） , aims to develop tools that can "improve the speed, reliability and interoperability of document transactions."

The project was developed by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) and Sberbank, and Aeroflot, Russia’s largest airline, is also said to be involved in the project.

In his speech, FAS Deputy Director Andrey Tsarikovsky said the project is expected to reduce document management and transaction costs.

This decentralized project allows to reduce costs, since there is no need to set up data processing centers, and there is almost no need to pay for equipment maintenance. It is noteworthy that Russia is one of the few countries in the world that has established cooperation between the state and market participants to explore innovations that simplify the process of business operations.

The project launched by Russia is particularly eye-catching because its government's previous actions have caused heated discussions outside. The Russian government has called Bitcoin a "currency substitute" and has repeatedly intended to issue a Bitcoin ban. This ban is currently on hold.

However, the projects announced by FAS show that the government’s attitude towards Bitcoin has not affected their enthusiasm for blockchain technology. In August this year, the Moscow government also stated that it was exploring blockchain technology to prevent unfair elections.

The project also signals that Sberbank, a major financial institution, is finally taking blockchain technology seriously.

Sberbank is a member of the Linux-based Hyperledger project and has previously expressed its desire to work with a number of domestic companies to study blockchain. Last year, Sberbank’s venture capital fund said it was very interested in investing in the blockchain sector and was continuing to pay attention.