Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin endorsed blockchain technology during a meeting on Sunday with Herman Gref, the president of Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank.
‘We Need Professionals In This Field’Gref, who said his bank would implement blockchain into its business, suggested to Putin that the Russian government should include blockchain technology in education and professional training, according to a translation by YouTube channel Russia Insight.
Blockchain technology is one of the key components of cryptocurrency networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
“We need professionals in this field,” he said.
He also called for “very careful regulations” that wouldn’t prohibit virtual currency.
“Caution is needed, but it is clear that we need legislation on the matter because this technology has a huge impact,” Gref said.
In response, Putin said “fine” before launching into an explanation on why Russia needed to get more involved in blockchain technology.
“Colleagues and citizens of the country may ask: Why do we need all this? We have oil, gas, coals, metals of all kinds … everything! But we need to further advance. This is what we need.”
Putin then quoted an unnamed oil minister of an Arab country who used a Stone Age analogy to describe how emerging technologies can disrupt society. (The analogy is a common expression that has taken on many different forms.)
“The Stone Age has not ended due to lack of stones, but because new technologies have appeared. And now new technologies appear in the world.”
Putin said that those who are “late in the race” would be dependent on leaders who adopted blockchain early.
“Russian cannot allow this,” Putin said.
Continue reading
>> http://bitcoinist.com/vladimir-putin-endorses-blockchain-russia/
