Issues in El Salvador for the crypto wallet Chivo: recently a database containing personal information of over 5 million citizens was discovered, spread on a forum dedicated to data breach.
This database, with a size of 144 GB, includes a wide range of information, such as the full name, a unique identity number, date of birth, address, and even a high-definition photo of each user.
Let’s see all the details below.
El Salvador: link to national crypto wallet raises concerns about data security
As anticipated, a recent data breach has put at risk the personal information of over 5 million Salvadoran citizens, linking the risk directly to Chivo. That is the country’s crypto wallet, through social media.
The database, available for purchase through various channels since last August, has now been freely distributed, opening the way to illegal use by criminals.
The file, with a size of over 144 GB, includes a wide range of information, including the full name, a unique identity number, date of birth, address, phone number, email address, and even a photo of each citizen involved.
According to Databreaches, the leaked data appears to come from a cloud backup of Alejandro Muyshondt, former national security advisor, whose involvement in previous scandals has already been known.
Although initially it was thought that the data was linked to a set of information about vaccinations, it later emerged that they could be connected to the requirements for registering and using the Chivo wallet.
This latest one, launched in 2021, has gained enormous popularity thanks to the incentives offered by the government of President Nayib Bukele, with $30 in BTC guaranteed to every citizen who registered.
David Gerard, author and blogger specializing in blockchain, suggested that this data could come directly from the registration processes of the Chivo wallet, which require identity verification (KYC).
Gerard has stated the following:
“These are literally the registration data for Chivo. I spoke with the guys who, weeks before the launch of Chivo, had warned the government of what would go wrong, and obviously it happened.”
Financial literacy for the Bitcoin era: El Salvador’s educational program
An El Salvador-based non-profit organization is revolutionizing financial education in the country and beyond, through an innovative educational program focused on Bitcoin (BTC).
My First Bitcoin, also known as “Mi Primer Bitcoin,” has recently launched its updated edition of the BTC Diploma. This is an initiative designed to promote wider adoption of the leading cryptocurrency and educate people about its benefits.
The organization started offering courses on Bitcoin in El Salvador after the implementation of the Bitcoin Law in 2021. In June 2022, it successfully launched the first 10-week educational program, involving 38 students from public schools.
This marked an important milestone, being the first time a BTC Diploma program has been introduced in a public school system worldwide.
Now, My First Bitcoin actively collaborates with the Ministry of Education of El Salvador. Which has adopted the open source exercise book as the primary resource for its educational program on Bitcoin.
Furthermore, through a pilot program with the government and in collaboration with Bitcoin Beach, the organization is currently training 700 teachers from public schools across the country. With the aim of distributing the BTC Diploma curriculum in their local schools.
The organization has also established a self-governing “network of nodes” of BTC educators on the front lines. This network includes over 29 educational projects from 18 countries that are already using the Bitcoin Diploma.
This testifies to the wide impact of the initiative beyond the borders of El Salvador.
Bitcoin education as a key to the future
The recent publication of the 2024 edition of the BTC Diploma represents another important step forward in My First Bitcoin’s mission.
The curriculum, consisting of 175 pages and divided into ten chapters, covers a wide range of topics. From the history of money to the emergence of challenges of government-issued currencies, and finally, to the solution that Bitcoin offers to these problems.
Furthermore, it delves into the technical functioning of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network.
All materials are publicly available on GitHub, and the organization actively encourages participation in translating the curriculum.
The previous edition was translated into 23 languages, demonstrating widespread interest and global involvement in financial education on Bitcoin.
John Dennehy, founder and CEO of My First Bitcoin, emphasized the importance of education on Bitcoin in the current financial context stating:
“We believe that education on Bitcoin will change the world and this new edition represents a big step in that direction. This knowledge will encourage us to build, create, and further plan for the future and this changes everything.”