Ajay Gupta - Shaping California's mDL Program and the Future of Digital Identity
In this episode of The Future of Identity Podcast, I’m joined by Diego Fernández, co-founder of QuarkID and Sovra, to discuss the innovative decentralized identity solution rolled out by the city of Buenos Aires. QuarkID has garnered international attention for its self-custodial identity wallet app, and Diego provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at its development, challenges, and growing adoption.
In this episode we explore:
- The journey of QuarkID, from its origin story to its evolution as a decentralized identity solution.
- Insights into adoption challenges when launching a self-custodial identity wallet app in February and the breakthrough moment of integrating it into the government mobile app.
- The impressive growth of QuarkID, with over 200,000 users onboarded in just 40 days and adoption accelerating at an increasing rate.
- Diego’s visionary perspective on the shortcomings of current identity systems and how improved digital identity can drive prosperity and empowerment.
- Practical lessons for governments and organizations looking to implement decentralized identity systems.
This episode is a must-listen for professionals in digital identity, government innovation, and technology ecosystems. Whether you’re interested in decentralized identity, user adoption strategies, or creating impactful public-private partnerships, this conversation offers valuable insights.
Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to share it with others who are passionate about the future of identity!
Learn more about QuarkID here.
Reach out to Riley (@rileyphughes) and Trinsic (@trinsic_id) on Twitter. We’d love to hear from you.
Listen to the full episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or find all ways to listen at trinsic.id/podcast.
Video timestamps from the Diego Fernández interview
You can watch the full video interview on our YouTube channel, or skip to the timestamps below to find the sections that are most interesting to you.
1:31 – Diego shares the origin story of QuarkID
7:05 – Driving adoption through decentralization and convenience
10:18 – Success in Argentina with verifiable credential-based solution
15:46 – Digging in on what a reverse adoption lifecycle is
18:10 – Onboarding 200,000 people in 40 days
22:42 – Convergence of different identity wallets
27:13 – South American market’s influence on the development of Quark ID
31:19 – Guidance for South American governments navigating digital identity options
35:01 – Predictions on digital identity adoption in South America over next few years
37:19 – Learn more about QuarkID and get in touch with Diego
How to get in touch
Most people listen to the Future of Identity on Apple or Spotify. You can find all ways to listen at trinsic.id/podcast.
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As always, you can reach out to our host, Riley Hughes, on X (@rileyphughes) or LinkedIn. We love hearing from listeners! See you again in two weeks.