After 18 months, the country already has 10,000 e-residents.
Manu Sporny, a U.S. citizen and tech entrepreneur, became Estonia’s 10,000th e-resident last week, Motherboard, a Vice publication, reports.
Launched in December 2014, the program is touted by Estonia as the first of its kind in the world and “offers to every world citizen a government-issued digital identity and the opportunity to run a trusted company online, unleashing the world’s entrepreneurial potential.”
When I first visited Estonia over twenty years ago, the Baltic country had recently regained its independence from the Soviet Union.
Tallinn, the capital and an old Hanseatic trading city, offered an intriguing mix of medieval architecture and shoddy Soviet style construction. Situated on the Gulf of Finland, Estonia, though occupied by Moscow, was deceptively close to the free Nordic countries.
Since regaining its freedom in 1991, Estonia has pursued a fast track to democratic and now digital development. The building blocks involved a revival of the country’s multi-party traditions and an embrace of free markets.
Read more: In super free Estonia, you can start a new company in 20 minutes, online
Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas visited Duke Wednesday to discuss how his government has used technology to improve its citizens’ lives.
Rõivas—the youngest leader in the European Union—delivered a talk at the Sanford School of Public Policy called, “A 21st Century State: Anything is Possible.” He explained that his country’s emphasis on national security, fiscal prudence, a free-market economy and technology are the reasons for Estonia’s significant economic growth since regaining independence in 1991.
Estonia launched on Friday its country management software platform for other states, enabling them to benefit from the services like three-minute-tax-declaration or e-voting which are in use in the most digital nation in the world.
The new CountryOS service was built in the co-operation of the government of Estonia, tech entrepreneurs and Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol. The platform is a tailored version of the one that is currently used to manage Estonia.
Read more: Estonia Launches Country As A Service Software For Other Countries
Blockchain’s public sector use goes beyond payments.
The Estonian Government will use Blockchain technology to protect citizens’ electronic health records.
Digital transactions made with Blockchain technology are irreversibly recorded. The records are impossible to change because they are shared globally across thousands of computers in real time through a distributed ledger.
Read more: Estonia using Blockchain to secure health records