Alphaville’s Dan McCrum and Jemima Kelly take aim at chancellor Philip Hammond’s claim that blockchain technology could resolve the Brexit impasse over the Irish border question.
Technology used at the border is a red herring, says Alphaville – even the best database cannot poke its nose inside a lorry.
Alphaville quotes Irish IT expert Sadhbh McCarthy, saying the idea of technological solutions to the Irish border question are “complete nonsense”.
Comments
I am inclined to agree that Hammond’s grasping at blockchain seems like desperation, and we have some sympathy with the general thrust of the Alphaville piece.
We would also point out that the recent Treasury Select Committee report on crypto currencies and blockchain was less than flattering towards the technology – perhaps Hammond didn’t read it.
Even the ‘Reply’ report, ‘Blockchain for Brexit’ mentioned in the Alphaville piece, acknowledges that while there are several examples of blockchain being applied in supply-chain, transport and logistics (Walmart, Everledger, Maersk, Rotterdam), they are not primarily for customs facilitation. Reply also note that ‘it is hard to see a sufficient number of these schemes being operational in time for Brexit”.
However, also note that there are enough ambitious and well funded blockchain startups out there (Hyperledger, Ethereum Foundation, Consensys, et al) who might quite like the PR kudos of producing a Brexit boosting blockchain proposal specifically aimed at solving the Irish border question.
After all, it doesn’t actually have to work – it just has to give all the negotiating parties a reason to think it might work, something they can coalesce around to break the current impasse. They need to get a move on though.
What do you think?
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