Germany has elected a new parliament in 2017. The negotiations turned out to be more volatile than expected, and it took a few months for CDU / CSU (the largest party in Germany) to find a partner to form a government. Suddenly an agreement with the SPD was found and finally after few months negotiations are nearing completion. Today, we look at the coalition agreement between the CDU / CSU and the SPD to find the plans for our possible new cyptocurrency taxations and regulations by the german government. We came across a few lines, which have voted us positive. The blockchain appears several times in the coalition agreement. This signals also a very high interest by the german gonvernment on blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
The blockchain in the coalition agreement!
We were very surprised that the term blockchain can be found in the coalition agreement. Not even a few years ago, the internet was still new territory for Mrs. Merkel. We will quote here all 4 points from the contract and make a personal assessment.
"The Internet is new territory for us all"
Under the heading "Digital literacy for all citizens" we found the term "Blockchain" for the first time.
Die Hightech-Strategie wird weiterentwickelt und auf die großen gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen fokussiert. Dabei werden wir neue Instrumente zur Förderung von Sprunginnovationen und des Wissenstransfers in die Wirtschaft entwickeln. Umfassende Technologieoffenheit in der Forschungsförderung ist ein wichtiges Grundprinzip unserer Forschungspolitik. Wir brauchen eine Ausbildungs- und Forschungsoffensive in allen Digitalisierungsfeldern. Als besonders wichtig erachten wir Innovation, digitale Souveränität und Interdisziplinarität. Die Schwerpunkte der Mikroprozessortechnik und IT-Sicherheit wollen wir weiter stärken. Dazu kommen weitere Forschungsschwerpunkte wie künstliche Intelligenz, Data Science, Digital Humanities sowie Blockchaintechnologie, Robotik und Quanten-Computing. Es gilt heute Data Science in allen Bereichen, insbesondere aber in den Hochschulen, auszubauen. Dazu muss der Umgang mit Daten zu einem zentralen eigenen Wissenschaftsfeld und einer eigenen Disziplin werden. Den digitalen Wandel als gesamtgesellschaftlichen Entwicklungs- und politischen Gestaltungsprozess begleiten wir u. a. mit der Arbeit des Weizenbaum Instituts.Translation:
"The high-tech strategy will be further developed and focused on the major social challenges. In doing so, we will develop new tools to promote crack innovation and knowledge transfer to the economy. Comprehensive open technology in research funding is an important basic principle of our research policy. We need a training and research offensive in all digitalization fields. We consider innovation, digital sovereignty and interdisciplinarity to be particularly important. We want to further strengthen the focus of microprocessor technology and IT security. Other areas of research include artificial intelligence, data science, digital humanities and blockchain technology, robotics and quantum computing. Today, data science has to be expanded in all areas, but especially in universities. For this, the handling of data must become a central field of science and discipline. We accompany the digital transformation as an overall social development and political design process also with the help of the Weizenbaum Institute. "
This could be the first step of the possible new federal government to acknowledge the blockchain technology and classify it as eligible. We can expect that in this area will flow even more capital in the future. Not only in the area of
private investors, but maybe even taxpayers' money. In addition, the government has also announced large grants, tax optimizations and other things for start-ups and fintechs. Of course, this includes all companies that have the blockchain technology as a basis or rather as a product. You can find some details in the next quotes. These are especially interesting for using cryptocurrencies as a means of payment.
Auch eine kohärente Regulierung und Aufsicht sollen dazu beitragen, Deutschlands Rolle als einer der führenden Digitalisierungs- und FinTech-Standorte zu stärken. Wir werden unnötige bürokratische Hemmnisse beseitigen und dafür sorgen, dass Geschäfte mit gleichen Risiken auch gleich reguliert werden. Um das Potential der Blockchain-Technologie zu erschließen und Missbrauchsmöglichkeiten zu verhindern, wollen wir eine umfassende Blockchain-Strategie entwickeln und uns für einen angemessenen Rechtsrahmen für den Handel mit Kryptowährungen und Token auf europäischer und internationaler Ebene einsetzen. Die Möglichkeiten der bargeldlosen Zahlung sollen im digitalen Zeitalter erweitert werden. Anonymes Bezahlen mit Bargeld muss weiterhin möglich bleiben.Translation:
"Coherent regulation and supervision should also contribute to strengthening Germany's role as one of the leading digitization and FinTech locations. We will eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles and ensure that transactions with the same risks are regulated at the same time. To unlock the potential of blockchain technology and prevent abuses, we want to develop a comprehensive blockchain strategy and advocate an appropriate legal framework for cryptocurrency and token trading at european and international level. The possibilities of cashless payment are to be extended in the digital age. Anonymous payment with cash must remain possible. "
This quote sets the basis for the future of the blockchain technology used as a payment system.
The recognition of tokens and cryptocurrencies seems to be near future. In the end, it always depends on the design of the law or on the implementation, but this content leaves a positive impression. How the story ends will be shown, but it is nice to read that the federal German government will have a "blockchain strategy".
It is also mentioned that the blockchain technology can be misused. You should keep in mind that this not only affects the citizen, but also the state.
The goal is set, till 2021 the german fedel government is going to publish a fair and cryptocurrency friendly “blockchain strategy”. It's about bringing the administration up to date and using the technical possibilities.
In der Bundesregierung werden wir innovative Technologien wie Distributed Ledger (Blockchain) erproben, so dass basierend auf diesen Erfahrungen ein Rechtsrahmen geschaffen werden kann.Translation:
"In the Federal Government, we will test innovative technologies such as Distributed Ledger (Blockchain), so that based on these experiences, a legal framework can be created."
This entire section is about reducing the burden on the citizen and making better use of resources. Also, they target a digital portal for the citizen. This could become reality, especially with a new ID card. The Federal Government recognizes that digital technologies will also influence the industrial location of Germany in the future.
Wir wollen die bestehenden Technologieprogramme für anwendungsnahe Forschung zur Förderung digitaler Spitzentechnologien wie Quantencomputing, Robotik, autonome Systeme, Augmented Reality (3D Virtualisierung), Blockchain, Visible Light Communication und Smart Home fortführen und ausbauen. Gleichzeitig werden wir gemeinsam mit unseren französischen Partnern ein öffentlich verantwortetes Zentrum für künstliche Intelligenz errichten.Translation:
"We intend to continue and expand existing application-based technology programs to promote cutting-edge digital technologies such as quantum computing, robotics, autonomous systems, augmented reality (3D virtualization), blockchain, visible light communication, and smart home. At the same time we will establish, with our French partners, a publicly responsible artificial intelligence center. "
This sounds great, but one must also reveal the criticism that this artificial intelligence can also be used abusive.
Cryptocurrencies, tokens, blockchain technology and ICO have arrived in the federal government. The attitude is positive and cryptocurrency user and holder can breathe deeply. A ban in Germany seems to be off the table and the topic cryptocurrency will not be regulated to death.
Although it is not certain that the new federal government will come about on this way, we must expect that the points mentioned will also find their way into the next contract. These topics around blockchain will continue to influence politics, media, industry as well as users in the near future.
This is the first step to consolidate Germany as a business location in blockchain technology and not to lose ground in international competition. But this is not only good news for Germany, because it will require other countries to go the same way to keep up internationally. We are glad to present such great news to you and we are sure of a great future for cryptocurrencies.
Greetings from Germany
Ibi & Jan
source: https://www.cdu.de/koalitionsvertrag-2018