South America Moves Forward with Digital Identities

Two of the most populous countries in South America have announced plans for harnessing blockchain based digital identity protocols to streamline and secure citizen access to public services.

Brazil

In a move that promises to transform the way its citizens interact with the government, Brazil has unveiled ambitious plans to digitise its national identity programme through the integration of blockchain technology. This undertaking, encompassing a population of more than 200 million people, will mark a turning point in the country’s technological evolution.

The government’s vision begins in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Goiás and Paraná, where citizens will soon have access to on-chain identification documents. A decree issued in February 2022 mandated that all issuing bodies should be capable of issuing such documents.