Brazil Develops Blockchain Network To Support ID Rollout

As Brazil advances the implementation of a new national identity card, the government has developed a blockchain network to add an extra layer of security to data sharing across the federal revenue service and civil identification bodies.

The network will underpin the revenue service’s shared registry, dubbed b-Cadastros, and will be used to search, issue and change the new ID cards and tax registration numbers. The platform was developed by the Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro), Brazil’s state-owned IT services corporation.

“The use of the b-Cadastros blockchain platform is a major differentiator for the security and reliability of the National Identity Card project”, said Serpro’s president, Alexandre Amorim.

The National Civil Identity Card (ICN) is an upgraded version for Brazil’s existing paper ID cards, and began to be issued nationwide in July 2022. The main rationale for the project is to centralize the country’s civil identification system and use the ICN database to authenticate users accessing public services online.

The new plastic card allows users to generate a single digital version of the document, which is believed to be safer as it enables validation through a printed QR code. With the blockchain-enabled ID, the Brazilian government also expects to centralize processes and reduce fraud and illegal activities, given that currently, it is possible for a Brazilian to request an identification card in each of the country’s 27 states.

“Blockchain technology plays a fundamental role in protecting personal data and preventing fraud, providing a safer digital experience for Brazilian citizens”, said Serpro’s Amorim.

The Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Goiás and Paraná will be the first to implement the blockchain-based version of the national revenue service’s shared registry for issuing the new ID cards this week. The remaining states are expected to follow within the next six weeks.