This content was originally posted on Algorand's blog.
The Algorand Foundation has joined the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF), strengthening its commitment to open standards in digital identity. This move follows the development of did:algo, a decentralized identifier (DID) built on Algorand.
Algorand’s DID method exemplifies the Foundation's commitment to standardized identity solutions, as did:algo was built to the DID Spec from W3C (the World Wide Web Consortium). The implementation of did:algo enables individuals and organizations to generate their identifiers using the Algorand blockchain, providing a secure and permissionless system for identity management. The method supports both direct identity creation and third-party verification, adding flexibility to identity management approaches.
did:algo is already being used in Kare Wallet, enabling survivors of natural disasters to quickly confirm their digital identities and get efficient access to the aid and recovery resources they need, across multiple organizations and entities.
DIF leads the development of decentralized identity infrastructure through technical specifications and open standards. The organization coordinates engineers and technical teams worldwide to create specifications for digital identity systems that work across different platforms and technologies. DIF is building an ecosystem where individuals and entities control their digital identifiers without relying on centralized systems.
Bruno Martins, Principal Architect at Algorand Foundation, explains the strategic importance of this collaboration: "Contributing and aligning to open standards defined by bodies such as DIF enables us to ensure interoperability with the rest of the digital world, influence industry direction, foster innovation, and build trust. All the while reducing costs, aligning with regulatory standards, and avoiding creating unnecessary custom solutions that keep us in an ecosystem bubble."
Kim Hamilton Duffy, Executive Director of DIF, notes that Algorand’s involvement will advance core technical efforts: “At DIF, our mission is to build digital identity solutions that prioritize individual control, privacy, and security. Algorand’s technical expertise and commitment to decentralized identity accelerate our progress, strengthening our joint vision for decentralized infrastructure that empowers users with secure and trusted identity systems through open standards.”
The Foundation will continue to share updates on decentralized identity developments, particularly focusing on implementations that leverage Algorand's infrastructure for secure, scalable identity solutions.