Buenos Aires to Launch Blockchain Protocol ‘QuarkID’, Built on zkSync Era
In Brief
Buenos Aires is gearing up to unveil QuarkID, a open-source digital identity protocol built on Ethereum’s zkSync Era.
The collaborative effort behind QuarkID involves Extrimian and Matter Labs, the organization powering Ethereum’s layer-2 zkSync Era blockchain.
Argentine capital Buenos Aires is gearing up to unveil QuarkID, a open-source digital identity protocol built on Ethereum’s zkSync Era, to transform citizen access to public services. The initiative is scheduled to commence in November, and marks a pioneering stride in Latin America’s digital identity landscape for secure, self-sovereign data control.
Under the innovative protocol, Buenos Aires residents will have the ability to download the QuarkID native wallet, facilitating easy access to essential personal documents, including birth and marriage certificates. This streamlined approach to documentation management aims to simplify citizens’ interactions with government services.
The collaborative effort behind QuarkID involves Extrimian, a on-chain digital identity solutions provider and Matter Labs, the visionary organization powering Ethereum’s layer-2 zkSync Era blockchain.
“This is a monumental step towards a safer and more efficient future for government services in Latin America,” said Guillermo Villanueva, the CEO of Extrimian. “QuarkID creates a closer relationship between a government and its citizens while also bringing digital identity practices and security standards to Latin America. We are proud to work alongside Matter Labs, the team developing the zkSync Era protocol, and the Secretariat of Innovation of Buenos Aires City to make this future a reality.”
QuarkID aims to showcase the concept of self-sovereignty, to empower individuals with full control over their personal data. While the initial release will offer limited document types, Buenos Aires authorities have outlined plans for a phased introduction of additional official credentials.
The move builds upon collaborative efforts since 2022 by the Secretariat of Innovation and Digital Transformation in Buenos Aires, in partnership with tech entities such as Extrimian, IOV Labs, OScity, and Xcapit, alongside active engagement with the local community.
Leveraging zkSync for Data Ownership
The QuarkID wallet is constructed atop Matter Labs’ technological foundation, leverages zkSync Era’s blockchain framework for consolidated document storage. zkSync Era operates as the settlement layer for the QuarkID platform, ensuring the secure ownership of each stored document.
“We’re excited to be part of this initiative that sees the first major country push a digital ID solution to its citizens. The City of Buenos Aires is leading the way with this innovation and setting an important precedent in the region”, said Omar Azhar, Head of Business Development at Matter Labs. “Identity and personal information hacks and leaks represent a massive hindrance in innovating and making interactions with public administrations more efficient. Blockchain protocols solve these issues by ensuring personal information can’t be tampered with all while bringing ownership of personal information back in the hands of individuals.”
Beginning November, citizens would be able to access critical documents such as proof of income and academic attendance certificates, vital for benefits claims via their digital wallets. To create a QuarkID wallet during the initial rollout, residents will need to complete existing biometric know-your-customer procedures for identity verification.
The comprehensive QuarkID roadmap, slated for release by year-end, aims to expand its services to over 2.5 million users by broadening the spectrum of available credentials.
Diego Fernandez, the Secretary of Innovation of the Buenos Aires City Government, expressed his vision for the initiative, emphasizing the initiative as “public good.” He said that with the development, Buenos Aires will be the first city in Latin America and one of the first in the world to integrate and promote the new technology.
Their collective goal is to advance decentralized digital identity, reshaping the current landscape of e-government services throughout Latin America.
Latin America is swiftly emerging as a hotspot for blockchain adoption, displaying a willingness to embrace censorship-resistant technologies for official government functions and record-keeping. Furthermore, citizens across the region are increasingly open to cryptocurrency transactions, particularly since El Salvador’s historic adoption of bitcoin (BTC) as an official currency in 2021, alongside the US dollar.
This pioneering move by Buenos Aires into the realm of blockchain-based digital identity signals a shift in the region’s approach to secure, efficient, and self-sovereign citizen services. The launch will set a precedent for Latin American nations to follow suit.
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About The Author
Victor is a Managing Tech Editor/Writer at Metaverse Post and covers artificial intelligence, crypto, data science, metaverse and cybersecurity within the enterprise realm. He boasts half a decade of media and AI experience working at well-known media outlets such as VentureBeat, DatatechVibe and Analytics India Magazine. Being a Media Mentor at prestigious universities including the Oxford and USC and with a Master's degree in data science and analytics, Victor is deeply committed to staying abreast of emerging trends. He offers readers the latest and most insightful narratives from the Tech and Web3 landscape.
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Victor is a Managing Tech Editor/Writer at Metaverse Post and covers artificial intelligence, crypto, data science, metaverse and cybersecurity within the enterprise realm. He boasts half a decade of media and AI experience working at well-known media outlets such as VentureBeat, DatatechVibe and Analytics India Magazine. Being a Media Mentor at prestigious universities including the Oxford and USC and with a Master's degree in data science and analytics, Victor is deeply committed to staying abreast of emerging trends. He offers readers the latest and most insightful narratives from the Tech and Web3 landscape.
