Buenos Aires Launches Blockchain-Based Digital Identity for 3.6 Million Residents
Buenos Aires has introduced QuarkID, a blockchain-based digital identity system, to enhance privacy and data management for its 3.6 million residents. This pioneering effort integrates with the city’s MiBa platform, marking a major shift in how identity verification is handled within government services.
Key Features of QuarkID
The system employs zero-knowledge cryptography via the Ethereum-based ZKsync Era, ensuring secure document management without exposing personal data. Diego Fernández, Buenos Aires’ Secretary of Innovation and Digital Transformation, highlighted QuarkID’s potential to allow users greater control over their information, improving both privacy and security. Documents like birth certificates, tax records, and vaccination information are accessible, with future integration planned for driver’s licences and public permits.
The initiative is being tested in other Argentine regions, including Jujuy and Tucumán, with hopes of national adoption. By utilising blockchain technology, Buenos Aires aims to reduce identity theft risks while cutting administrative costs for both citizens and the government. As the first city in the world to launch a government-backed decentralised identity solution, Buenos Aires is setting a precedent for other nations to explore similar technologies.
Conclusion
This blockchain initiative is an ambitious step towards modernising government services, ensuring data security and authenticity for citizens. With plans for wider implementation, QuarkID could reshape digital identity across Latin America.
