Taqanu: A Blockchain Solution for Financial Inclusion for Refugees

Banking today is not designed for everyone.

Taqanu is opening the financial ecosystem for anyone by using a blockchain-based digital ID to enable financial inclusion and create equal opportunities.

In the last week I've been posting about this up-and-coming project led by my good friend Balázs Némethi. When implemented, Taqanu will help people such as refugees who are excluded from today's financial system to establish their identity in the blockcain, which will in turn open the doors for them to open bank accounts without traditional forms of identification.

Why is this important? When people are forced to flee from their homes, they usually take their mobile phones with them, but don't always have government-issued IDs like passports. Without proper ID when they end up in a new country, it can be almost impossible to open a bank account, which makes it almost impossible to find (legal) work and a place to live. Having a globally-accepted digital ID on the smartphone they are carrying around could erase this problem and help people build a new life in a new place without becoming a burden on the welfare system - a win-win situation even for those who aren't so keen about the influx of refugees into Europe.

Balázs explains in more detail here in one of the many conferences he's attended in the past year to share his vision of Taqanu:

European Identity & Cloud Conference 2017

Balázs has been hard at work on Taqanu for just over a year now. It's a full time ++ job, but with one major difference from a normal job - as a startup, there is no salary, at least until the project gets financial backing from investors (which may be just around the corner!).

In order to help Balázs with the day-to-day and give a small push to keep going, I'm planning to make him a personal donation of the earnings from this post and my previous 4 posts this week about Taqanu and some (unrelated) adventures we've been on together. I believe that hard work for a noble cause deserves some recognition and support, and this is my way to chip in.

So if you have a moment, please consider upvoting this post as well as my previous posts listed below to help support Taqanu!

Post 1: YOU Can Help Refugees Get Access to Blockchain-based Banking! (Rewards period closed but worth checking out if you want to learn more about Taqanu)
Post 2: Life in Oslo Part 6: Dodging Dogsleds and Building a Fire at -15C
Post 3: The Challenges of Norwegian Cabin and Ski Trips (Short Film)
Post 4: Life in Oslo Part 7: Random T-bane (Subway) Destinations (Short Film)

Thank you to everyone for the support and positive feedback already! I will post once more about Taqanu next week to summarize the results from this week, and will update you periodically with any breaking news that emerges.

Yours sincerely,

Mike V.
Adventure Every Day