Residents gain enhanced privacy and control with decentralized digital identities, powered by ZKsync Era and QuarkID.
Blockchain-Based IDs Rolled Out in Buenos Aires
The Argentine capital has embraced blockchain technology for issuing digital identities to its citizens. Buenos Aires recently announced that over 3.6 million residents now have access to decentralized digital IDs through their mobile devices. Powered by ZKsync Era, this initiative strengthens the city’s commitment to enhancing privacy and security for personal data management.
Decentralized Identity Solution: QuarkID and miBA Integration
On October 21, Buenos Aires revealed that it had incorporated QuarkID, a decentralized identity protocol, into its miBA platform. This platform allows users to access government services and official documents. Since October 1, millions of users have received these digital identities secured by QuarkID, developed by Web3 firm Extrimian. The solution is built using ZKsync Era, an Ethereum-based scaling protocol that leverages zero-knowledge cryptography to safeguard identities.
Enhanced Privacy for Personal Data
“By giving 3.6 million residents greater control over their personal data, the city is setting a new standard in privacy and security for digital identity management,” according to a translated statement from Buenos Aires officials. The introduction of blockchain-based IDs marks a significant step forward in data ownership, allowing residents to manage their credentials when interacting with the government and businesses.
Blockchain in Buenos Aires: Expanding Use Cases
Buenos Aires has been implementing blockchain initiatives over the past few years. In September 2023, the city introduced birth and marriage certificates on the blockchain. Future plans include offering proof of income and academic records on-chain, further showcasing the potential of decentralized solutions in government services.
Blockchain Revolutionizing Government Services
Diego Fernández, the city’s Secretary of Innovation and Digital Transformation, emphasized the broader applications of blockchain technology. “We have seen a lot of blockchain-based innovation in financial services, but this initiative demonstrates blockchain’s potential to revolutionize other use cases, such as government services, by empowering citizens to securely own their data.”
Data Ownership and Cryptographic Protections
QuarkID wallets offer self-sovereign data storage, allowing citizens to control their digital credentials securely. “By giving residents control over their identities, we are not only improving privacy and security but also laying the foundation for a future where personal data ownership becomes a basic right, protected by advanced cryptographic zero-knowledge proofs,” Fernández added.
Blockchain Education in Buenos Aires
The city has also introduced blockchain education in schools. Since August 2023, high school students have had access to Ethereum programming classes, learning Solidity, a language used to build decentralized applications (DApps) on the Ethereum network. This reflects Buenos Aires’ commitment to fostering blockchain knowledge among the next generation.
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