Buenos Aires adds blockchain-based IDs to city app for privacy purposes

Buenos Aires has introduced a new digital identity system that prioritizes privacy using zero-knowledge technology.

The Argentinian government has integrated QuarkID, a blockchain-based identity solution, into the miBA application, which provides services and documents to more than 3.6 million residents, according to a press release from Chainwire.

This initiative was launched on October 1, 2024, marking Buenos Aires as the first city in the world to adopt ZK technology to manage decentralized digital identities.

The introduction of QuarkID gives residents greater control over their personal data. The system allows them to manage documents such as birth certificates and tax records via their mobile devices.

Buenos Aires and ZK technology

The key innovation here is zero-knowledge encryption, which allows users to verify information without revealing unnecessary personal details.

Zero-knowledge technology, a cryptography tool, ensures privacy by allowing only relevant data to be shared during verification processes. In practical terms, this means that personal data is protected from disclosure during interactions and that no third party, including the government, can track how and when these personally identifiable information is used.

This differs from traditional systems where organizations typically manage and store user data.

QuarkID’s blockchain framework is built on the ZKsync Era blockchain, providing enhanced security and transparency. According to the statement, since personal identification information is stored in a decentralized system, risks such as data breaches and identity theft are reduced.

Buenos Aires plans to expand the system to cover more documents, such as driver’s licenses and public permits.

QuarkID has also been piloted in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, and is planned to be further expanded throughout Argentina.