Blockchain evidence versus the State
Sovi Dwi Febrian Silva · Oñati Socio-legal Series · 2025
RAIMUNDO is an innovative decentralized application (DApp) designed for the legal sector, leveraging Ethereum's sustainable blockchain technology (now based on Proof of Stake) to certify documents. By using a dual-hash system, it enables attorneys to produce tamper-proof "blockchain evidence," eliminating the need for state intermediaries. This empowers legal professionals, especially in regions with authoritarian regimes or corruption, to independently certify documents. However, judicial acceptance of blockchain evidence varies. Common law systems increasingly recognize it as valid, while civil law jurisdictions, with formal and state-centric traditions, often prioritize public certification over private digital methods. Factors such as blockchain's anonymity and the strict public certification duties of European notaries contribute to this divide. Although technically compatible with notarial roles in civil law, the integration of blockchain into regulatory frameworks remains uncertain, highlighting the need for ongoing evaluation of its evidentiary value compared to traditional public documents.