Brazil is launching a new national ID programme. Rio de Janeiro, Goias and Parana will be the first states to issue identification documents based on a blockchain developed by Serpro, Brazil’s national data service.

More than 214 million Brazilians will soon be using blockchain technology to digitally identify themselves, as recently announced by the national government.

The entire country should be able to issue identity documents using blockchain technology by 6 November, according to a decree dated on 25 September.

According to Alexandre Amorim, president of Serpro, the decentralisation of blockchain has made it an ideal technology for the country’s digital identity project: ‘Blockchain technology plays an important role in personal data protection and fraud prevention, providing Brazilian citizens with a more secure digital experience”.

According to local authorities, the national ID project is crucial for fighting organised crime, allowing government entities to work together, providing easier access to services and streamlining administrative documentation.

Brazil has been working for the past several years to harmonise the issuance of identity documents across the country’s nearly 30 states. The new technology will allow for more secure data exchange between the Federal Tax Service and government agencies, said the report.

Another major development in the country was the central bank’s forthcoming digital currency. In August, the government released more information about the project, renaming the digital currency Drex.

According to previous reports, the Central Bank plans to increase businesses’ access to capital through a tokenisation system linked to Drex, as reported by Cointelegraph.

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