Moez Chakchouk presented on Tn.Post's experiments with blockchain technology in Tunisia. Tn.Post has launched e-Dinar wallet and MobiPoste services with over 700k users. They developed a DigiCash platform using a blockchain-inspired transaction protocol. However, introducing cryptocurrency in Tunisia faces regulatory challenges as the currency is not convertible and strict money laundering laws exist. Nonetheless, blockchain could enable distributed ledgers that respect sovereignty while fostering financial inclusion through open and trusted systems.

1. Geneva, 21 March 2017
Blockchain inTunisia: From Experimentations
to a Challenging Commercial Launch
Moez Chakchouk, Chairman & CEO of Tn.Post
ITUWorkshop on “Security Aspects of Blockchain”
Geneva, Switzerland, 21 March 2017

2. Tn.Post Overview
✤ The Tunisian Post, a leader in financial &
social inclusion by promoting the provision of digital
services in Tunisia: DFS, e-commerce, e-government, …
✤ A huge sales network for the provision of diverse
services,
✤ The first financial organization in Tunisia to introduce
e-payement (2000) & m-payement (2009),
✤ Oct. 2015: Launch of Blockchain experimentations in
partnership with Tunisian Fintech startups
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Geneva, 21 March 2017

3. Tunisian e-Dinar & MobiPoste
✤ e-Dinar Wallet: 700K prepaid debt cards -
Virtual Account,
✤ 520K subscribers are using SMS/USSD
based MobiPost for money transfer, bill
payement, mobile airtime, debt collection, …
✤ Up to 2.5M transactions achieved per year,
✤ Interoperability between telcos and possible
interconnection with other payement
platforms.
✤ e-Dinar Pro, a merchant customized prepaid
debt card — Point Of Sale (POS)
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Geneva, 21 March 2017

4. DigiCash Plateform
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Smartphone Smartphone
Distributed
Consensus Network
PIN
ID
[Transaction JSON on https://]
Peer-to-Peer Transaction
SDK SDK
Notarisation
Signature
Notification Notification
https://
Transaction
Data
https://
PIN
ID
Signature
Signature
Transaction Architecture: Blockchain Inspired Transaction Protocol
e-Dinar Wallet e-Dinar Wallet
Cash In/
Cash Out
Cash In/
Cash Out
Geneva, 21 March 2017

5. DigiCash Mobile APP
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✤ Interoperability with existing e-dinar Platform and Bill payement
platform,
✤ Possible use of digital national certificates,
✤ Opportunity to use the APP to buy&sell goods (e-commerce),
Geneva, 21 March 2017

6. Regulatory Challenges
✤ Tunisian Post is an authorized financial institution but not a Bank,
✤ Tunisian Currency TND is not a convertible currency,
✤ Tunisians living in Tunisia are not allowed to have a bank account
or a virtual wallet that aren’t under the Tunisian financial
regulation.
✤ Cryptocurrency is not official authorized to be introduced or even
used in Tunisia,
✤ Heavy regulation to prevent Money Laundering is discouraging
innovative solutions to be fostered or introduced.
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Geneva, 21 March 2017

7. Blockchain is an opportunity
✤ Today’s typical Banking System is regulated: Centralized Ledgers.
✤ Blockchain is a technology (Peer-to-Peer based technology) and is not a
cryptocurrency that might need to be regulated.
✤ Different levels of decentralization -> Distributed Ledgers
✤ Level 1: Permissioned, Private, Shared Ledgers,
✤ Level 2: Permissioned, Public, Shared Ledgers,
✤ Level 3: Permission-less, Public, Shared Ledgers.
✤ Possible implementation considering sovereignty requirements in
emergent economies: Tunisian Cryptocurrency (TNCoin/eDinar/BitDinar).
✤ Possible adoption by the UPU .POST Community: PostTransfer Systems.
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Geneva, 21 March 2017
Increasing
Security Threats

8. ✤ Distributed Ledger Technology or blockchain is fostering
deep change in the financial sector: Openness,
✤ Cybersecurity threats should be addressed differently: A
Social Compact between all stakeholders,
✤ Privacy is critical & Trust is the Key of any development,
✤ There will be always cyber security risks to be addressed
by the community — The Goal is to make the technology
used more for better purposes : Digital Financial
Inclusion.
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Conclusion
Geneva, 21 March 2017

9. Geneva, 21 March 2017
Thanks for your attention
Moez Chakchouk, Chairman & CEO of Tn.Post
ITUWorkshop on “Security Aspects of Blockchain”
Geneva, Switzerland, 21 March 2017