The EU Digital Identity Wallet Mandate: What Every Nation Must Deliver by 2026

In a landmark move, the European Union has mandated that every member state must provide at least one European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet to its citizens and businesses by the end of 2026.

The goal?

Create a trusted, interoperable, and user-controlled digital identity layer across the continent.

This move, embedded within the updated eIDAS Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, marks the beginning of a pan-European digital trust ecosystem, empowering citizens and enabling seamless digital services across borders.

What does eIDAS Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 mean?

Under this regulation:

• Every EU Member State must offer a certified EUDI Wallet to individuals and legal entities.

• These wallets must support:

   

  • 1. Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) models
  • 2. Verifiable Credentials (VCs) and Verifiable Presentations (VPs)
  • 3. Selective Disclosure and Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs)
     

• Users must be able to:

   

  • 1. Prove identity both online and offline
  • 2. Digitally sign documents
  • 3. Store, manage, and present credentials from trusted issuers anywhere in the EU
     

This creates an SSI-powered digital infrastructure, placing control of personal data back in the hands of users.

What Is the EUDI Architecture Reference Framework (ARF)?

To ensure seamless implementation, the EU has published the EUDI Wallet Architecture Reference Framework (ARF) - a robust technical guide for developers, wallet providers, and public authorities.

The ARF includes:

• 1. Open APIs and data models using W3C Verifiable Credentials
• 2. DIDComm, OpenID4VP, and BBS+ cryptographic standards
• 3. Governance models for issuers, verifiers, and wallet providers
• 4. Interoperability protocols for cross-border adoption
   

The ARF enables a wallet ecosystem where trust, privacy, and portability are default, not add-ons.

Legal Responsibilities for Member States

By 2026, every EU country must:

• Launch at least one EUDI-compliant Wallet

• Interact with Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs) and sector-specific issuers (e.g., universities, banks, health agencies)

• Ensure public and private sector services accept credentials for:
   

  • 1. Age Verification
  • 2. Driving Licenses
  • 3. Academic Certifications
  • 4. KYC / AML processes
  • 5. eGovernment access
     
• Ensure full compliance with the ARF and cross-border interoperability
   

The wallet must be:

• Free of charge
• Voluntary to use
• Portable across the EU
   

This leap transforms national eIDs into decentralized, user-centric, privacy-enhancing tools.

Why This Is a Golden Opportunity, Not Just a Mandate

The EUDI Wallet is not just regulatory compliance. It’s the future platform for innovation across Europe.

Imagine:

• Citizens verifying age without revealing their birthdate
• Seamless hotel check-ins without physical documents
• Reusable digital KYC for bank onboarding
• Cross-border health insurance claims managed by secure VCs
• Education credentials verified in seconds across borders
   

The result:

A sovereign, interoperable identity layer for governments, startups, enterprises, and citizens alike.

What We Do at smartSense Solutions?

At smartSense, we specialize in turning regulation into production-ready systems.

We have developed:

• EUDI-compliant wallet stacks
• SSI + VC/VP infrastructure
• ZKP-based flows for age verification
• Integration with Gaia-X Trust Framework and Digital Clearing House
   

As a 2-time Gaia-X Hackathon Winner, and winner of the Zero Proof Age Verification use case, our work is recognized by Europe’s digital identity pioneers.

See our ETHGlobal showcase for proof-of-concept :

Digital Interaction & Data Exchange using SSI

We’re already helping clients in the EU and ANZ regions fast-track their wallet strategies.

What Comes Next?

Over the coming weeks, we’ll dive into:

• How to use digital wallets (issuer → holder → verifier flow)
• A breakdown of 10 real-world use cases
• Implementation details for:
  • 1. Age Verification (ZKP-based)
  • 2. Travel + Visa
  • 3. eGov + KYC
  • 4. And more...
     

If you’re building a wallet, dataspace, or SSI project - let’s talk at [email protected]