Over 214 Million Brazilians will Leverage Blockchain Technology for Digital Identity

JAKARTA - The Brazilian government recently announced that more than 214 million Brazilians will soon use blockchain technology for digital identity. The states of Rio de Janeiro, Goiás and Paraná will be the first states to issue identification documents via a private blockchain developed by Serpro, Brazil's national data processing service.

The entire country of Samba should be able to issue identity documents via blockchain technology by November 6, according to a September 25 decree. According to Alexandre Amorim, president of Serpro, blockchain's immutability and decentralization make it an ideal technology for state digital identification projects.

"Blockchain technology plays an important role in protecting personal data and preventing fraud, offering a safer digital experience for Brazilians. Utilization of the b-Cadastros blockchain platform significantly increases the security and reliability of the National Identity Card project," said Amorim.

According to the local government, this national identification project is vital in fighting organized crime, allowing government sectors to work together, providing a simpler way to access services, and simplifying administrative records. The city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, recently unveiled a similar initiative, allowing citizens to access identity documents via digital wallets.

Over the past few years, Brazil has worked to unify identity issuance in nearly 30 states. The newly adopted technology will enable more secure data exchange between the Federal Tax Service and government departments, according to the announcement.

One other significant development in the country is the upcoming central bank digital currency. The government released more information about the project in August, with a new brand of digital currency called Drex.

According to previous reports, the central bank plans to expand businesses' access to capital through a tokenization system linked to Drex. Drex code was discovered to allow central authorities to freeze funds or reduce balances, according to local developers.