Applications 6 - 10
6. Secure personal information
Keeping data such as your Social Security number, date of birth, and other identifying information on a public ledger (e.g., a blockchain) may actually be more secure than current systems more susceptible to hacks. Blockchain technology can be used to secure access to identifying information while improving access for those who need it in industries such as travel, healthcare, finance, and education. IBM (IBM -1.85%) offers businesses a blockchain-based platform known as Digital Credentials, which lets employees store everything from employee IDs to occupational licenses.
7. Voting
If personal identity information is held on a blockchain, that puts us just one step away from also being able to vote using blockchain technology. Using blockchain technology could make sure that nobody votes twice, accept only eligible voter ballots, and prevent tampering. What's more, it could increase access to voting by making it as simple as pressing a few buttons on your smartphone. At the same time, the cost of running an election would substantially decrease. Romania became the first European Union nation to use blockchain technology in its parliamentary election in 2024 to guarantee the integrity of the electoral process and to strengthen its transparency.
8. Government benefits
Another way to use digital identities stored on a blockchain is to administer government benefits, such as welfare programs, Social Security, and Medicare. Using blockchain technology could reduce fraud and the costs of operations. Meanwhile, beneficiaries could receive funds more quickly through digital disbursement on the blockchain. The Netherlands is using a blockchain-based infrastructure to administer its pension program.
9. Securely share medical information
Keeping medical records on a blockchain can allow doctors and medical professionals to obtain accurate and up-to-date information on their patients. That can ensure that patients seeing multiple doctors get the best care possible. It can also speed up the system for pulling medical records, allowing for more timely treatment in some cases. And, if insurance information is held in the database, doctors can easily verify whether a patient is insured and their treatment is covered. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, along with researchers at MIT, conducted a six-month test of blockchain medical records, which successfully made it easier for doctors to access information from disparate sources.
10. Artist royalties
Using blockchain technology to track music and film files distributed over the internet can make sure that artists are paid for their work. Since blockchain technology was invented to ensure the same file doesn't exist in more than one place, it can be used to help reduce piracy. Using a blockchain to track playbacks on streaming services and a smart contract to distribute payments can provide greater transparency and the assurance that artists receive the money they're owed. Music rights management and distribution platform Revelator has implemented blockchain to manage royalties.
