The National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI) is seeking a seasoned blockchain technologist to lead its exploration of blockchain opportunities within India's payment systems.
Harnessing the Power of Blockchain
NPCI, an initiative supported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and 247 Indian banking companies, operates the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) - a home-grown instant payment system facilitating interbank and peer-to-peer transactions. In its pursuit of leveraging blockchain technology, NPCI has recently posted a job opening on LinkedIn for a head of blockchain.
The desired candidate should possess at least six years of experience in developing and implementing blockchain solutions. They will be responsible for identifying potential areas where blockchain-driven solutions can be applied. Additionally, the ideal candidate should have in-depth technical knowledge of various blockchain platforms and prior experience in at least two pilot blockchain projects.
UPI's Global Success
Since its inception, UPI has revolutionized the Indian payments landscape and attracted interest from other countries. Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Benelux countries, Nepal, and the United Kingdom have all adopted the UPI payments system to some extent. Incorporating blockchain elements into UPI could introduce millions of users to this transformative technology, further establishing the capabilities of blockchain that have propelled Bitcoin for over a decade.
Currently, the NPCI has received over 200 applications for the blockchain position, and more hiring is expected once viable blockchain use cases are identified.
Tackling Crypto Crime in the UK
In a similar move, the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA) is recruiting four senior investigators to its Complex Financial Crime Team to combat crypto-related crimes. The NCA is targeting high-end crypto fraud, money laundering, and other blockchain-based crimes carried out by organized crime groups. This hiring effort is part of the UK's ongoing efforts to establish an investigative team dedicated to illicit crypto activities. The NCA recently launched its digital assets team, signaling a heightened focus on crypto assets.
As both India and the UK continue to recognize the potential of blockchain technology, their respective searches for blockchain experts highlight the growing demand for professionals in this field.
