GBA Leader Talks Digital Identity and Future Plans Ahead of Blockbuster Event

We caught up with GBA Leader and EarthId CEO, Shiv Aggarwal to discuss the upcoming GBA webinar, where he will be giving the low-down on digital identity in social and financial inclusion.

What Are You Working On These Days?

Aggarwal: “I am currently leading EarthId, an award winning decentralised identity management platform. EarthId allows secure and frictionless exchange and verification of identity information. It helps organisations reduce identity frauds, and save time and costs associated with customer onboarding processes, while ensuring privacy and regulatory compliance”.

“EarthId is championing the concept of self sovereign identity which empowers users with data ownership, privacy and consent. Our vision is to build an inclusive Earth powered by self-sovereign digital identity. I am also leading Government Blockchain Association (GBA) in Europe”.

How Was the Last Year, What Worked Well and What Didn’t? How Have You Adapted to the Current Corona Times?

Aggarwal: “Last year has been a tough for everyone due to the pandemic and it is going to leave a lasting impact on the society. People have lost family and friends; some have lost their livelihood and some even their hopes. However, as innovators its our responsibility to find a silver lining, a ray of hope to prepare us better and build a new future. That is precisely we have been trying to do during the last year or so”.

“Given the pandemic has diminished the boundaries between the real and the virtual world, our work at EarthId has become more crucial. A safe and secure digital identity is paramount to providing access to basic amenities and offline as well as online services”.

“We have been working very closely with our partners to drive innovation, supporting novel use cases like health/travel pass, digital assets, CBDCs. The pandemic has also taught us to be more compassionate towards people and find new ways to be more effective and efficient. Working remotely in our shorts and Zoom calls with virtual backgrounds are just some of the many cultural changes that we have adopted and adapted to”.

What Are Your Plans For the Future?

Aggarwal: “Our main focus is towards pushing the boundaries of innovation to build the next-gen identity management solution that is decentralised, efficient, highly scalable, interoperable and tamperproof. We are primarily focussing on building multi-channel multi-tenant ID wallets which are suitable for both low and high tech environments”.

“We have a keen focus on interoperability and portability, which is crucial for mass adoption. We are also implementing industry-first decentralised biometrics with multi-modal support across physical and behavioural biometrics. This will play a vital role in driving our passwordless solution well suited for both personal and professional use”.

“EarthId’s solution will revolutionise transactions such as buying a house, opening a bank account, enrolling at a university and buying age-restricted goods online or in person. Our solution is going to be the cornerstone of future economies. From a growth perspective, we are pursuing new regions, including North America and Europe. We are also pursuing enterprise partnerships to drive adoption across high growth sectors. Obviously, we are looking at raising capital to fuel our aggressive growth plans. Happy to engage with investors interested in supporting our vision”.

What Will You Be Talking About At the GBA Event?

Aggarwal: “I am very excited to discuss about the crucial role of digital identity in driving social and financial inclusion, while talking about some of the associated challenges”.

“I would take this opportunity to talk about our work on decentralised self-sovereign identity, and how SSI can empower people with data ownership, privacy and consent. There are numerous innovative use cases, across private and public sectors, which I would like to share with our audience. Do you know SSI can also fight crime?”.

What Inspired You To Attend the GBA Event?

Aggarwal: “The topic, transformation of identity management using blockchain, is already very close to my heart. Also, Jillian Godsil is a dear friend who has been supporting me and EarthId since the early days. So, when she reached out, I was more than elated to participate. Given this event is hosted by GBA Ireland, it gave me another opportunity to support the GBA community”.

Which Influencers Do You Follow To Keep Up To Date With the Latest Developments?

Aggarwal: “Government Blockchain Association (GBA) is a global network of industry thought leaders who happily engage in insightful conversations through various forums”.

“I especially like Dr Scott Stornetta, a founding father of blockchain technology. His work has been repeatedly referenced in Bitcoin whitepaper. Some of the other people I really appreciate include Gerard Dache and Prof. Joerg Molt. These people are doing tremendous work for the advancement of the blockchain industry”.

How Can People Find Out More About What You Are Working On?

Aggarwal: “I am easily reachable on LinkedIn, Twitter or via our website – www.myearth.id In a few days, I could also be found on Clubhouse”.

For more stories regarding the GBA event and more, check here.