Digital wallets: what a cardless future means

In a move that takes us closer to secure digital identities for everyone, everywhere, the IEC, together with DIN, ISO and the Open Wallet Foundation recently made several standards freely available for use. The announcement was made today at the Global Digital Collaboration Conference in Geneva.

First we went cashless. Now we are going cardless. Credit cards, boarding cards, loyalty cards, ID cards and even drivers' licenses are just some of the things that are moving from our physical wallets to digital ones. But what is a digital wallet and how do we know it is safe?

What is a digital wallet? A digital wallet is a secure electronic application that stores and manages verified digital assets such as payment cards, travel or identity documents, drivers licenses and certificates. It allows users to authenticate themselves, make payments, store credentials and securely share information online or in person.

Global adoption is accelerating. In Europe, for example, every EU Member State will offer at least one EU Digital Identity Wallet by the end of 2026, enabling citizens to share official credentials and use them across borders. But it's not just Europe. Governments worldwide are embracing digital wallets as it offers a secure way of storing official documents, proving identities and putting the control of personal data back in user's hands.

Can we trust it? Today, proving who we are can be not only cumbersome, but is inherently risky. Often, we are asked to upload scans of passports, utility bills other personal credentials to open accounts, check in to hotels or enroll in education and much more. Every copy is a potential breach. Millions of identity documents are compromised every year.

Digital wallets reduce this risk by allowing users to share verified digital credentials rather than repeatedly sharing original documents. This means we can show we are qualified without having to send certificates or prove we have a valid drivers license without having to hand over a copy.

It also means we only need to share what is necessary. We can prove we are over 18 without disclosing our date of birth. We can demonstrate our legal residence status without disclosing our full address.

Is it cyber secure? Cyber security is a key reason why governments around the world are adopting digital wallets. They rely on internationally agreed standards for strong security measures such as encryption and authentication so that users are alerted if data is modified

Bridging the digital divide

The benefits of digital wallets can only be realized if everyone has access. According to the World Bank, at least 2.8 billion people still lack access to a government-recognized digital identity. This is why, to help close this gap, the IEC, in collaboration with ISO, DIN and the OpenWallet Foundation are providing free worldwide access to key supporting standards.

As announced at the Global Digital Collaboration Conference 2026, the ISO/IEC 18013 and ISO/IEC 23220 series of standards for mobile driving licenses and similar digital credentials will now be freely available. This will support secure, interoperable systems and bring trusted digital identity within reach for more people worldwide.

LINK:	https://www.iec.chDigital wallets: what a cardless future means...
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