TL;DR
- El Salvador has begun recording official documents on the Bitcoin blockchain using the OpenTimestamps protocol.
- The first official use registered certificates from the CUBO+ program, allowing each graduate to verify their diploma through a public hash available on bitcoin.gob.sv.
- Simple Proof is already developing projects with other ministries to secure administrative and legal documents.
El Salvador has started registering official documents on the Bitcoin blockchain, setting a historic precedent in the protection of public records.
The initiative is led by the National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) in partnership with the U.S.-based company Simple Proof. It uses the OpenTimestamps protocol to guarantee the authenticity and permanence of documents without compromising citizens’ privacy.
How This System Works
The system leverages a unique feature of Bitcoin: its ability to act as an immutable “digital clock.” Each digital document is associated with a cryptographic hash linked to a specific block on the network, creating verifiable evidence that cannot be altered.
Unlike other methods, Simple Proof does not upload entire files to the blockchain, preventing network congestion and protecting personal data. This approach allows millions of documents to be secured with a single transaction.
The first official use of the system involved the certificates of graduates from the CUBO+ program, a diploma focused on advanced education in Bitcoin and financial technology. Each graduate can verify their diploma through a public hash available on bitcoin.gob.sv, choosing whether their name appears alongside the proof or remains anonymous. According to Carlos Toriello, CEO of Simple Proof, this ensures that all diplomas are genuine and directly verifiable on the blockchain.
The company is already working on pilot projects with other government ministries to apply the same technology to administrative and legal documents. The goal is to prevent manipulation or falsification of any public record, promoting transparency and strengthening citizen trust. Additionally, the system provides a tool against disinformation and fake content generated by artificial intelligence, as any citizen can verify a document’s authenticity in seconds.
El Salvador: Making and Recording History on the Blockchain
Toriello emphasizes that the initiative could transform how governments preserve their history, allowing official documentation to be recorded and verified without third-party intervention. If El Salvador continues adopting this technology, it could become the first country in history whose official records are fully verifiable by anyone, at any time.
This measure represents a monumental step toward digitalization. El Salvador has established Bitcoin not only as legal tender but also as a reliable infrastructure for the custody and verification of official information.
