eIDAS 2.0 requires all EU member states to offer at least one certified European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet by the end of 2026 at the latest. The wallet gives approximately 450 million Europeans more control over digital identity data and credentials, with privacy and data minimization as a starting point. From 2027, entities including banks, telecom companies, healthcare organizations, transport operators, and large online platforms must begin supporting the EUDI Wallet.

The infrastructure uses strong cryptography, hardware-bound keys, and standards such as SD-JWT, ISO 18013-5, OpenID4VCI, and OpenID4VP. Through selective disclosure, users can share only necessary data, for example, “older than 18” without revealing their birth date. A European PKI and Trusted List structure must ensure that wallets, issuers, and receiving organizations can trust each other across borders.

For businesses, this means a shift from scans and OCR checks of identity documents to direct, cryptographically verifiable data. New business models are emerging around Electronic Attestations of Attributes (EAA/QEAA), verification services, and trust infrastructure. European pilots involving KYC, payments, travel, education, and e-prescriptions demonstrate that the wallet will become much broader than just a digital identity document. The EUDI Wallet is thereby developing into a fundamental trust layer for digital transactions within the European internal market.

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