El Salvador Begins Securing Public Records on the Bitcoin Network

El Salvador has initiated a new phase in its digital transformation by recording government-issued documents on the Bitcoin blockchain, marking what is being described as a historic milestone in safeguarding public records. The effort is being coordinated by the National Bitcoin Office in collaboration with Simple Proof, a U.S.-based technology company specializing in blockchain verification systems.

The process relies on the OpenTimestamps protocol, which enables documents to be linked to the Bitcoin network through cryptographic timestamps. This method allows verification of authenticity without revealing the contents of the document or exposing personal data, ensuring both transparency and privacy.

Blockchain Used as a Permanent Record System

The system takes advantage of Bitcoin’s function as an immutable time registry, sometimes referred to as a digital clock. Each document is converted into a cryptographic hash and permanently associated with a specific block on the Bitcoin ledger. This creates tamper-proof evidence that can be checked independently at any time.

Rather than uploading full documents to the blockchain, Simple Proof only records the hash, which significantly reduces data storage requirements and avoids network congestion. This means that millions of official records can be protected through a single transaction, while also preventing the exposure of sensitive information.

The first implementation of the initiative was applied to certificates issued to graduates of the CUBO+ program, a government-supported course on Bitcoin and financial technology. Graduates are now able to confirm the legitimacy of their certificates through a publicly accessible hash on the official government website. Participants may also choose whether they want their identity displayed or kept private. Simple Proof’s CEO stated that this model ensures that all certificates remain verifiable without relying on centralized record-keeping.

Broader Plans for Administrative and Legal Records

Simple Proof indicated that the partnership is already expanding through pilot programs involving other public ministries, where the same blockchain-based verification system may soon be applied to legal, administrative, and historical documents. The underlying objective is to prevent alteration or forgery of state-issued records and to reinforce trust in official data.

The system has also been presented as a defense mechanism against artificial intelligence–generated misinformation, since citizens will be able to authenticate any protected document within seconds. Project leaders suggested that this technology could redefine how governments archive and preserve their institutional history by creating digital records that do not depend on third-party custodians.

If fully adopted, El Salvador could become the first country with a national archive whose validity can be independently confirmed on a public blockchain.

Strengthening Bitcoin’s Role in National Infrastructure

This initiative builds on the country’s broader strategy of integrating Bitcoin into its state systems. After becoming the first nation to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, El Salvador is now positioning the Bitcoin blockchain as a core layer for public-sector transparency and information management.

Officials have suggested that the move represents not just a technological upgrade, but a structural reform in how governments establish trust in official records. The long-term vision is to create permanent, accessible, and incorruptible documentation of state activity—verified by cryptographic proof rather than institutional authority.

With this development, El Salvador is positioning itself as a global test case for blockchain-based governance, demonstrating how a public cryptocurrency network can be used beyond financial transactions to authenticate state data and digital identity at scale.